West Indies tour of India 2026 | 1st ODI | Preview and Predictions
India continue to work towards ticking off all boxes in preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup, to which end they’re hosting the West Indies for a white-ball tour.
Team India will be led by Shubman Gill, with the old warhorses Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma returning to the national team setup for the only format they’re both still active in.
The white-ball series kicks off with three ODIs, the first of which takes us to Thiruvananthapuram. For the first game between India and the West Indies, here we present our preview and predictions.
IND v WI 2026 | 1st ODI | 14:00 IST, September 27, 2026
The hosts have geared up for this series with a full-strength squad, with Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Shreyas Iyer being the main absentees. While Pandya is injured and not cleared to play yet, Bumrah has been rested, while Iyer is leading the T20 team in Japan for the Asian Games and will return for the T20I series against the Windies.
In Pandya’s absence, Nitish Kumar Reddy is the team’s frontline seam-bowling all-rounder and is coming into the series on the back of a successful series against Afghanistan. Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is also set to play his first ODI since January, while Mohammed Siraj will be leading the bowling attack in Bumrah’s absence. The pace-bowling unit sees the impressive Auqib Nabi get a maiden ODI call-up along with Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar. Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are the only two spinners in the squad, which doesn’t give Gill a lot of options aside from his seamers.
India’s batting unit is led by captain Gill, with Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli supporting him at the top of the order. With no Iyer, KL Rahul, who is the vice-captain of the team, will have added responsibility on his shoulders, with Naman Dhir having also received a maiden call-up to the one-day team. Dhruv Jurel will be the secondary keeper to Rahul but is likely to slot into the inexperienced middle order as well. With no Rishabh Pant, and Ishan Kishan at the Asiad, the Indian batting order doesn’t have a left-hander in the top five, which could be an issue.
The West Indies, like India, have a couple of senior names missing as Shai Hope leads a team mixed with youth and exciting talent. John Campbell, Keacy Carty, and Sherfane Rutherford are the main batters in the Windies squad alongside captain Hope. Shimron Hetmyer will join the squad for the T20I leg.
WI, as they have in the last couple of decades, boast a host of all-rounders, with Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, and Keemo Paul being handy with bat and ball, while former captain and star all-rounder Jason Holder has been rested for this tour.
The West Indies have an exciting pace attack thanks to the likes of Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph, and Jayden Seales, while Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase will be their main spinners and prove key in the turning Indian conditions. Matt Forde, Greaves, and Paul further provide captain Hope with bowling options.
The Greenfield strip has generally brought about plenty of runs. Additionally, like most pitches in India, it provides some assistance to the slower bowlers.
Given India’s top-heavy batting, we could see a big score or two from the hosts if they bat first. We expect lots of runs in general, with spinners from both camps getting some help as well.
Both teams are missing a couple of big names, but given the hosts’ squad depth, talent, and firepower, we have them as our clear favourites to win the first ODI.
Fantasy XI: Shubman Gill (c), John Campbell, Shai Hope, Virat Kohli (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Roston Chase, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Jayden Seales, Gudakesh Motie
Venue: Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Winners Prediction: India
