Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli hit centuries as India chase 296 with ease, while Kuldeep Yadav claims four wickets in Thiruvananthapuram.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, September 27, 2026: India launched their three-match ODI series against the West Indies with a commanding eight-wicket victory in Thiruvananthapuram, powered by centuries from Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli and a superb four-wicket haul from Kuldeep Yadav.
After West Indies posted 295, India chased down the target comfortably, with Gill and Kohli combining for a decisive 151-run partnership. Kohli also completed 15,000 ODI runs during the chase, becoming only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the landmark.
Greaves provides West Indies with strong foundation
Asked to bat first, West Indies made an impressive start, establishing a 135-run opening partnership that put India under early pressure.
Justin Greaves capitalised on the platform to score his maiden ODI century, putting the visitors on course for a total in excess of 300.
However, Kuldeep Yadav changed the complexion of the innings by dismantling the West Indies middle order. His four-wicket spell dragged India back into contention, although a late contribution from Amir Jangoo helped the visitors reach 295.
West Indies captain Shai Hope later admitted that his side had fallen approximately 60 to 80 runs short, despite having established a strong position early in the innings.
Gill and Kohli dismantle West Indies attack
India began the chase positively, with Rohit Sharma and Gill adding 74 runs for the opening wicket before Rohit departed for 32.
Gill continued his innings to register his 10th ODI century, while Kohli settled quickly at the other end.
The pair then produced a match-defining 151-run stand that effectively ended West Indies’ hopes of defending their total. Kohli followed Gill to three figures and simultaneously completed his historic 15,000 ODI runs.
West Indies paid heavily for dropping Gill when he was on 11. Their new-ball attack failed to generate sufficient pressure, while the bowling effort lost further momentum during the middle overs.
Kuldeep named Player of the Match
Kuldeep was named Player of the Match after returning impressive figures of 4 for 40 from 10 overs.
The spinner said he had enjoyed his rhythm throughout the spell, focusing on variations in pace, reading the batters and trusting his instincts.
Kuldeep also suggested that the performance could provide an important boost to his confidence, while acknowledging that there remained room for improvement.
Gill praised Kuldeep’s impact, describing him as a wicket-taking bowler who can change the course of a match when he finds his rhythm.
Kohli reflects on historic milestone
Kohli described his 15,000-run achievement as a by-product rather than a personal target, saying his focus has always been on understanding the match situation and doing what the team requires.
He attributed his consistency to a combination of his understanding of the game and physical fitness, while stressing the importance of remaining mentally fresh.
Kohli also spoke about his desire to continue developing his game with the 2027 World Cup still a year away. He said his priorities include maintaining fitness, improving different facets of his batting, contributing energetically in the field and continuing to play positive cricket.
He praised Gill’s leadership and said their partnership works naturally because both players understand what is required in different match situations.
Hope admits West Indies fell short
West Indies captain Shai Hope acknowledged that his team failed to capitalise on its strong opening platform.
He praised the opening pair but said the innings stalled during the middle overs, leaving the team with too much to do at the end.
Hope also pointed to missed opportunities in the field and said that when defending a total of 295, everything needs to fall into place. He vowed that West Indies would learn from the defeat and work on becoming more complete as a team.
India lead series 1-0
The emphatic victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
The second ODI will be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, September 30, with the match scheduled to begin at 8:30am GMT (2pm IST).
India will head into the second encounter with considerable confidence after combining explosive batting with a disciplined bowling performance, while West Indies will need a substantially more complete display across all three departments to level the series.