Justin Greaves struck a fluent maiden ODI century — 101 off 108 balls — while John Campbell hit 62 and Amir Jangoo finished unbeaten on 58, but a superb 4-for-40 from India wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav pegged West Indies to 295/7 in the first ODI at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on 27 September. Put in to bat in stifling heat and humid conditions, the visitors looked on course for 300-plus before Kuldeep's late burst swung momentum firmly in India's favour.

Explosive Start: Greaves and Campbell Dominate the Powerplay

West Indies got off to a flying start, racing to 85/0 at the end of the mandatory powerplay. Greaves was particularly severe on India's pace attack, amassing 56 runs off 55 balls against the seamers, including 10 fours. Nitish Kumar Reddy's opening spell leaked 18 runs in his first over alone, with Greaves plundering four boundaries through a no-ball and a free hit.

Campbell complemented his partner by punishing the spin immediately upon its introduction in the ninth over — top-edging a sweep for four and clearing the boundary twice over long-on off Ravindra Jadeja. The 135-run opening stand was the third-highest opening partnership for West Indies against India on Indian soil, and the first century opening stand the visitors had managed against India since Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis added 115 in Port of Spain in 2019.

Greaves Reaches His Maiden ODI Hundred

Spinners managed to restrict Greaves to 44 runs off 53 balls with just two boundaries once the powerplay ended. Still, Greaves cut debutant Naman Dhir's off-spin past point in the 14th over to reach his fifty and bring up the team's hundred. He went on to raise his maiden ODI century with a sharp single through point, appearing to handle a shin problem throughout his innings.

Campbell had already departed in the 20th over for 62, top-edging a sweep off Kuldeep to short fine leg. Notably, India's economy rate dropped significantly through the middle overs — conceding runs at just 4.27 per over between overs 11 and 40 — a testament to the spinners' collective control.

Kuldeep Rips Through the Middle Order

The defining phase of the innings belonged to Kuldeep Yadav. He removed Campbell, then dismissed captain Shai Hope — who miscued a loft and was caught at backward point — before bowling Greaves via a googly that struck the back leg with ball-tracking confirming it would have hit the top of off stump. India had opted for the DRS review, and it paid off.

Jewel Andrew followed immediately for a golden duck — pressing forward to a googly that took a shoulder edge, with Rohit Sharma at slip grabbing the catch above his head. Keacy Carty had a tortured stay before holing out to mid-on off Prasidh Krishna for a scratchy contribution. At that stage West Indies, who had appeared certain to breach 300, were back on the defensive.

Jangoo's Late Blitz Falls Just Short of 300

Roston Chase eased pressure briefly with a reverse sweep and some crisp drives before Prasidh bowled him for 24 with a delivery that nipped back sharply in the 45th over, ending a 50-run stand. Jangoo, however, took on the attack in the death — hitting three fours off Prasidh in the 43rd over, then reaching his second ODI fifty off just 38 balls with consecutive fours and a six off Gurnoor Brar.

In the final over, Reddy removed Matthew Forde for a miscued full toss to long-off. Jangoo's unbeaten 58 off 43 balls pushed West Indies to 295 but could not quite clear the 300-run mark. Prasidh Krishna finished with 2-60, while India's seamers — especially Reddy — were expensive in the powerplay, raising questions over depth in the pace-bowling unit.

India's Chase Ahead

India's formidable batting line-up will now look to overhaul the target at the same venue. The hosts will draw confidence from the fact that West Indies, for all their early aggression, were ultimately restricted to a below-par total — thanks in large part to Kuldeep's match-defining spell. The second innings at Greenfield International Stadium on 27 September will determine whether this opening game of the series swings in India or West Indies' favour.

Brief Scores: West Indies 295/7 in 50 overs (Justin Greaves 101, John Campbell 62; Kuldeep Yadav 4-40, Prasidh Krishna 2-60) vs India.