India and West Indies will begin their three-match ODI series on Sunday, September 27, with the opening game at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Shubman Gill will lead India, while Shai Hope will captain the West Indies.
The match will also mark the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to India’s ODI setup. India are building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, while West Indies will look to challenge the hosts and end a long wait for a bilateral ODI series win over India.
IND vs WI: Match details
| Match | India vs West Indies, 1st ODI, West Indies tour of India 2026 |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, September 27, 2026 |
| Time | 2:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Series | West Indies tour of India 2026 |
The match is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM local time and will be played as a day-night ODI.
Greenfield International Stadium: Pitch report
The Greenfield surface is expected to offer good batting conditions once the initial new-ball phase passes. India batting coach Morne Morkel described the conditions as favourable for batting, although the new ball could provide some assistance to the seamers early on.
Both sides will therefore want their opening bowlers to make an impact with the new ball before the surface becomes easier for stroke-making.
IND vs WI: Head-to-head record in ODIs
India have dominated the recent ODI rivalry. Their last meeting came in August 2023, when India won by 200 runs after posting 351/5. India have also won the last several bilateral ODI series between the teams, while West Indies’ most recent bilateral series win over India came in 2006.
IND vs WI: Predicted playing XIs
India
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Gurnoor Brar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
This combination reflects India’s current squad options and the likely balance between pace, spin and batting depth.
West Indies
John Campbell, Shai Hope (C & WK), Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph
West Indies have a mix of experienced players and younger options, with Hope expected to remain the key figure in their batting lineup.
IND vs WI: Probable best performers
Probable Best Batter: Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli will attract plenty of attention on his return to ODI cricket. He remains one of India’s most experienced players in the format, and his ability to control an innings through the middle overs could prove important if West Indies make early inroads.
Probable Best Bowler: Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna has been in strong form and is expected to lead India’s pace attack alongside Mohammed Siraj. His height and ability to extract bounce could make him particularly effective during the opening spell.
IND vs WI: Match prediction
India enter the contest with greater experience and home advantage, while West Indies will look to make the most of any early assistance for their seamers. India’s batting depth, combined with the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, gives them plenty of match-winning options.
India start as the stronger side on paper and will look to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
