Virat Kohli blazed an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls and captain Shubman Gill hit a commanding 110 off 108 balls as India dismantled the West Indies by eight wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, on Sunday, 27 September 2026. India chased down 296 with 50 balls to spare, taking a 1-0 series lead.

Kohli Enters Elite Territory

Kohli became only the second men's batter in history — after Sachin Tendulkar — to reach 15,000 ODI runs, and did so as the fastest to that landmark. His innings of 139 not out featured ten fours and nine sixes — the most sixes he has hit in a single ODI innings. The knock was his 55th ODI hundred, his 10th against the West Indies, and his third-fastest in ODIs, reached off just 74 balls. It was also his 60th century in List A cricket.

He reached the 15,000-run milestone in the 29th over, punctuating the moment with three successive fours off Alzarri Joseph. Dropped on 125 by Keemo Paul, Kohli sealed the match in style — first with a whipped six over deep backward square leg, then with another six over fine leg.

Gill's Tenth ODI Hundred

Shubman Gill, leading the side, walked off to a standing ovation after his 10th ODI hundred, which contained 13 fours and a six. He and Rohit Sharma gave India a flying start with a 74-run opening stand, before Gill combined with Kohli for a match-defining 151-run partnership. Gill reached his fifty off 49 balls as dew set in, and his hundred with a drive off Jayden Seales at the start of the 31st over. He was eventually dismissed for 110 in the 34th over, slog-sweeping to deep midwicket off Roston Chase, three balls after the 150-run stand was raised.

Rohit Sharma contributed 32 before Alzarri Joseph — dismissing him in ODIs for the fourth time — induced a miscued whip to the fielder. Ruturaj Gaikwad finished unbeaten on 13 as India completed the chase at 300/2 in 41.4 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav Reins In West Indies

West Indies had made a blazing start, racing to 85/0 in the powerplay after being put into bat in stifling heat and humidity. Justin Greaves struck a fluent maiden ODI hundred — 101 off 108 balls — while John Campbell made 62 and Amir Jangoo finished unbeaten on 58 off 43 balls. The opening stand of 135 between Greaves and Campbell was West Indies' first century opening partnership against India since 2019.

India's seamers, including Nitish Kumar Reddy — whose first over cost 18 runs — and Gurnoor Brar, struggled early. The tide turned with spin: Kuldeep Yadav broke the opening stand in the 20th over, had Keacy Carty removed and dismissed Shai Hope at backward point, before ending Greaves's innings with a reviewed googly that struck off stump, and taking Jewel Andrew for a golden duck next ball. Kuldeep finished with a match-turning 4 for 40. Prasidh Krishna chipped in with 2 for 60. West Indies were ultimately held to 295/7 — five runs short of 300 — a total that proved wholly inadequate.

Debutant Naman Dhir in the Mix

Naman Dhir made his ODI debut in this match, bowling in tandem with the experienced spinners. Notably, with Justin Greaves leaving the field mid-innings with a shin problem, West Indies captain Shai Hope was left with only five frontline bowlers for the second half of India's chase — a significant tactical disadvantage that Gill and Kohli ruthlessly exploited.

What's Next

The three-match series now moves to its second fixture, with India firmly in control at 1-0. A win in the next ODI would seal the series for the hosts. West Indies will need to regroup, address their bowling depth, and find a way to contain a Kohli-Gill combination that is currently in devastating form.

Brief Scores: West Indies 295/7 in 50 overs (Justin Greaves 101, John Campbell 62; Kuldeep Yadav 4-40, Prasidh Krishna 2-60) lost to India 300/2 in 41.4 overs (Virat Kohli 139 not out, Shubman Gill 110; Roston Chase 1-64, Alzarri Joseph 1-81) by eight wickets.