With Test business having concluded, attention turned to the ODI series, which began at the Jawaharlal Stadium in Kochi.
Virender Sehwag, the Player of the Test Series, again made his mark on the match. After India won the toss and chose to bat, Sehwag laid down a marker by scoring 108 off 95 balls, including three sixes and nine fours.
After both Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly fell cheaply, Sehwag found support from Rahul Dravid, who made 104, albeit at a slightly slower pace. The pair put on 201 for the third wicket in 33 overs before Sehwag fell. Dravid continued, although he lacked proper support as too many batters threw their wickets away in the quest for quick runs.
Dravid, whose runs came off 139 balls and included six fours, eventually fell in the 48th over, and it was left to the tail to add 16 more, enabling India to reach 281/8. Arshad Khan was the best of the Pakistan bowlers, taking 4-33, although he only bowled six overs.
Pakistan started well, but lost three wickets in 11 balls that ripped the heart out of their innings. Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez led the recovery, sharing a stand of 48. But just when Inzamam was threatening to get going, he was bowled by Sachin Tendulkar for 37, and Pakistan collapsed.
Hafeez went on to top score for them with 42, including two sixes. The last-wicket pair of Naved ul-Hasan and Arshad delayed the inevitable with a partnership of 42. But by then, the result was beyond doubt. Pakistan were all out for 194 in the 46th over, slipping to an 87 run defeat.
Tendulkar, so often the hero with the bat, was the star with the ball this time, taking 5-35, while L. Balaji and Zaheer Khan took two wickets each.
It was Sehwag, though, who claimed Man of the match honours.