Virat Kohli blazed an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls and captain Shubman Gill contributed a composed 110 as India swept aside the West Indies by eight wickets in the first ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, on Sunday, 27 September, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Chasing 296, India cruised home in 41.4 overs with 50 balls to spare in a performance that was as clinical as it was dominant.

Kuldeep Yadav sets the platform with four wickets

West Indies posted a competitive 295/7 in their 50 overs, anchored by a determined 101 from Justin Greaves and an aggressive 62 by John Campbell. It was Kuldeep Yadav who kept the innings in check, finishing with a four-wicket haul conceding 40 runs. Prasidh Krishna chipped in with 2 for 60, but the West Indies total ultimately proved a mirage against India's formidable batting line-up.

Rohit and Gill's brisk start lays the foundation

Rohit Sharma and Gill launched the chase at a brisk tempo, putting on a 74-run opening stand before Rohit departed for 32 — dismissed by Alzarri Joseph for the fourth time in ODI cricket after mistiming a flick to a well-placed fielder at deep square leg. The powerplay closed at 70/0 off 10 overs, signalling India's intent from the outset.

Gill and Kohli bat West Indies out of the contest

Once Rohit fell, Gill and Kohli constructed a 151-run partnership that effectively ended the contest. Gill, battling cramps in the latter stages, completed his fifty off just 49 balls before reaching his century with a crisp drive past mid-on off Jayden Seales at the start of the 31st over. His 108-ball 110 was laced with 13 fours and a six, earning him a standing ovation from the home crowd as he walked off after being dismissed slog-sweeping to deep midwicket in the 34th over.

Kohli, who brought up his fifty in just 40 balls, shifted into an altogether higher gear once victory was assured. He struck ten fours and nine sixes — the most sixes he has hit in a single ODI innings — finishing unbeaten on 139 off 88 balls. His century, reached off 74 balls, was his third-fastest in ODIs and his 55th ODI hundred overall, including his 10th against the West Indies. Notably, it was one of six ODI centuries scored around the world on the same day — the first time that has happened in ODI history. Ruturaj Gaikwad played a supporting role as Kohli sealed the win with a pulled six over fine leg.

Kohli reaches 15,000 ODI runs — only second after Tendulkar

The innings carried a historic milestone: with a pull off Joseph in the 29th over, Kohli became only the second batter in ODI history after Sachin Tendulkar to reach 15,000 ODI runs, and the fastest men's batter to achieve the landmark. The crowd at Greenfield International Stadium rose to applaud the moment, with Kohli breaking into a broad smile as the ground acknowledged the feat. It is the latest chapter in a career that has redefined run-scoring benchmarks in the format.

India lead series 1-0 ahead of second ODI

With West Indies hampered — Greaves was off the field after the first innings due to shin cramps, limiting stand-in skipper Shai Hope to just five frontline bowlers — India exploited the thin attack ruthlessly in the second half of the chase. The clinical eight-wicket victory gives India strong momentum heading into the second ODI of the series. All eyes will now turn to Kohli's form and Kuldeep's continued rhythm as India look to wrap up the series early.