IND vs WI 1st ODI Preview: Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli Return as India Begin World Cup 2027 Journey in Thiruvananthapuram
IND vs WI 1st ODI Preview: Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli Return as India Begin World Cup 2027 Journey in Thiruvananthapuram
The road to the 2027 ODI World Cup begins now. India, fresh off a dominant 3-0 whitewash of Afghanistan, welcome West Indies to the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram for the first of three ODIs. The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the ODI setup has injected fresh energy into a series that marks the start of a new era in Indian white-ball cricket. Here is everything you need to know about the 1st ODI.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to India’s ODI setup for the first time since the England series. (Photo: BCCI)
Key Takeaways – The 1st ODI Preview
- 🏏 Rohit and Kohli Return: The two modern-day greats return to India’s ODI setup after a two-month break, bringing invaluable experience to the batting line-up.[reference:0]
- ⭐ Kohli’s 15,000-Run Milestone: Virat Kohli is just 59 runs away from becoming only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to reach 15,000 ODI runs.[reference:1]
- 🔥 Shubman Gill’s Fitness: India’s captain suffered an elbow injury scare during practice but has been cleared to play after returning to face throwdowns.[reference:2]
- 📊 India’s Dominant Record: India have not lost a bilateral ODI series against West Indies since 2006 – a drought spanning 20 years.[reference:3]
- 🇼🇸 West Indies’ 24-Year Wait: West Indies have not won an ODI series in India since 2002, but coach Daren Sammy believes his side can end that drought.[reference:4]
📋 Match Details
- Match: India vs West Indies, 1st ODI, West Indies tour of India, 2026
- Date: September 27, 2026 (Sunday)
- Time: 2:00 PM IST (Toss at 1:30 PM IST)
- Venue: Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram[reference:5]
- Broadcast (India): Star Sports Network
- Streaming (India): JioHotstar[reference:6]
📊 Head-to-Head Record – India vs West Indies (ODIs)
India and West Indies have faced each other 142 times in ODIs, with the Men in Blue holding a narrow advantage. India have won 72 matches compared to West Indies’ 64, with two ties and four no-results.[reference:7]
In India, the head-to-head is nearly even: India have won 32 of 61 encounters, while West Indies have claimed 28 victories.[reference:8] However, West Indies have not won a bilateral ODI series on Indian soil since 2002 – a drought spanning 24 years.[reference:9]
| Stat | India | West Indies |
|---|---|---|
| Total Matches | 142 | 142 |
| Wins | 72 | 64 |
| Ties | 2 | 2 |
| No Results | 4 | 4 |
| Highest Total | 418/5 (Indore, 2011) | 333 (Nagpur, 2007) |
| Lowest Total | 100 (Ahmedabad, 1993) | 104 (Thiruvananthapuram, 2018) |
| Win % in India | 52.4% | 45.9% |
Source: ESPNcricinfo / Sporting News[reference:10]
📈 Previous 10 ODI Innings Scores – India vs West Indies
| Match | India Score | West Indies Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI, 2026 | — | — | Upcoming |
| 3rd ODI, 2025 (Trinidad) | 351/5 | 240 all out | India won by 111 runs |
| 2nd ODI, 2025 (Trinidad) | 237/9 | 193 all out | India won by 44 runs |
| 1st ODI, 2025 (Trinidad) | 308/6 | 305/7 | India won by 3 runs |
| 3rd ODI, 2023 (Trinidad) | 200 all out | 171 all out | India won by 29 runs |
| 2nd ODI, 2023 (Barbados) | 181 all out | 182/4 | West Indies won by 6 wickets |
| 1st ODI, 2023 (Barbados) | 229/9 | 230/5 | West Indies won by 5 wickets |
| 3rd ODI, 2022 (Ahmedabad) | 265 all out | 169 all out | India won by 96 runs |
| 2nd ODI, 2022 (Ahmedabad) | 237/9 | 193 all out | India won by 44 runs |
| 1st ODI, 2022 (Ahmedabad) | 178/4 | 176 all out | India won by 6 wickets |
Source: ESPNcricinfo / Cricbuzz[reference:11]
🧾 Squads & Predicted Playing XIs
🇮🇳 India – Squad
- Captain: Shubman Gill
- Vice-Captain: KL Rahul
- Batters: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel
- All-rounders: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Naman Dhir
- Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi
Source: News18[reference:12]
🇮🇳 India – Predicted Playing XI
- 1. Rohit Sharma
- 2. Shubman Gill (c)
- 3. Virat Kohli
- 4. Ruturaj Gaikwad
- 5. KL Rahul (wk)
- 6. Nitish Kumar Reddy
- 7. Ravindra Jadeja
- 8. Kuldeep Yadav
- 9. Mohammed Siraj
- 10. Prasidh Krishna
- 11. Gurnoor Brar / Auqib Nabi
Source: News24 / Dailyhunt[reference:13]
🇼🇸 West Indies – Squad
- Captain: Shai Hope
- Batters: Jewel Andrew, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves
- Wicketkeepers: Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo
- All-rounders: Matthew Forde, Vitel Lawes
- Bowlers: Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph
Source: News18[reference:14]
🇼🇸 West Indies – Predicted Playing XI
- 1. John Campbell
- 2. Justin Greaves
- 3. Shai Hope (c & wk)
- 4. Keacy Carty
- 5. Sherfane Rutherford
- 6. Gudakesh Motie
- 7. Matthew Forde
- 8. Alzarri Joseph
- 9. Jayden Seales
- 10. Vitel Lawes
- 11. Shamar Joseph
Source: CricTracker[reference:15]
🏟️ Pitch Report & Weather – Greenfield Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Pitch Report: The Greenfield International Stadium pitch is traditionally a batting-friendly surface with good bounce and carry. The average first-innings score at this venue is 247, while the highest total recorded is 390/5. The pitch tends to offer some assistance to seamers early in the innings, but batters who settle in can score freely once the conditions become easier.[reference:16] The relatively limited ODI sample at the venue makes it difficult to label the surface as strongly spin-friendly, so both teams will need to assess the conditions quickly.[reference:17]
Weather Report: The weather forecast for Thiruvananthapuram is largely clear. Temperatures are expected to be around 31-32°C during the day. There is a slight chance of rain, with the probability hovering around 20-25% in the first few hours. However, this is not expected to cause any major interruption.[reference:18][reference:19]
Toss Factor: The captain winning the toss may choose to bat first on a fresh pitch because dew won’t be a major problem. When the ball gets old, the pitch may offer spinners some turn and bounce.[reference:20]
⭐ Key Players to Watch
💰 Fantasy Tips – Best Playing XI
🏆 Dream11 / Fantasy App Best XI
- Wicketkeepers: Shai Hope, KL Rahul
- Batters: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Keacy Carty
- All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Roston Chase
- Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Alzarri Joseph
Captain Pick: Virat Kohli — In superb ODI form and chasing a milestone, Kohli is a safe and high-upside captain pick.
Vice-Captain Pick: Shubman Gill — The No. 1 ranked ODI batter is in magnificent form and will look to make a big score.
Differential Picks: Ruturaj Gaikwad (India) — expected to bat at No. 4; Roston Chase (West Indies) — handy with both bat and ball.
Fantasy Strategy: The Thiruvananthapuram pitch favours batters, so load up on top-order batters from both sides. Kuldeep Yadav and Alzarri Joseph are the key wicket-taking options.[reference:27]
🗣️ Expert Reactions – What They Said
🔮 Match Prediction
India enter this match as clear favourites. The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli strengthens an already formidable batting line-up, and the bowling attack – led by Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj – has the quality to dismantle West Indies’ batting.[reference:32]
West Indies, however, have nothing to lose. They have been preparing specifically for this series, and their coach Daren Sammy has emphasized the importance of beating India in Indian conditions. Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, and Shimron Hetmyer will be key to their chances.[reference:33]
Prediction: India are expected to win and take a 1-0 lead in the series. However, West Indies have the firepower to spring a surprise if their top order fires.[reference:34]
🗣️ Senior Journalist’s Verdict – A Series With Multiple Storylines
My Take: Rohit and Kohli’s Return Changes Everything
This series was always going to be about more than just cricket. The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to India’s ODI setup is a massive boost for a team that is building towards the 2027 World Cup. Their experience and class cannot be replicated, and their presence in the dressing room will be invaluable for the younger players.
Shubman Gill’s injury scare is a concern, but the fact that he has been cleared to play is a relief. His form at the top of the order, combined with Rohit’s experience and Kohli’s class, gives India one of the most formidable top threes in world cricket.
West Indies, on the other hand, have a point to prove. They have not won a series in India since 2002, and Daren Sammy’s men will be desperate to change that. Shai Hope’s leadership and Alzarri Joseph’s pace will be crucial.
This is a series with multiple storylines: Kohli’s chase for 15,000 runs, Rohit’s return, Gill’s captaincy, and West Indies’ quest to end a 24-year drought. The 1st ODI in Thiruvananthapuram promises to be a fascinating contest.
— Editorial Team, CricLive.in
📰 Sources
- ESPNcricinfo — Head-to-head, fantasy tips, match preview, team news
- CricTracker — Match preview, predicted XIs, pitch report
- Sporting News — Head-to-head, pitch report, betting tips
- News18 — Squads, schedule, team news
- The Statesman — Kohli’s 15,000-run milestone
- India Today — Shubman Gill’s injury scare
- Cricbuzz — Match preview, team news, Daren Sammy quotes
- Zee News — Shubman Gill fitness update
- Jansatta — Aakash Chopra’s predicted XI
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