India vs West Indies 2026 | 1st ODI | Preview and Predictions

India continues to work towards ticking off all the boxes before heading for the ODI World Cup 2027 and in their preparation for the World Cup next year, the Men in Blue are hosting the West Indies for a white-ball tour. The Indian team will be led by captain Shubman Gill while the old warhorses in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to the national team setup in the only format both are still active in. 

The white-ball series kicks off with three ODIs and the first game of the series heads to Thiruvananthapuram. Ahead of the first ODI between India and West Indies, here’s our match preview and predictions. 

IND v WI 2026 | 1st ODI | 14:00 IST, September 27, 2026

The hosts, India, have put up a near full-strength squad with Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer being the main absentees from the squad set to play against West Indies. While Pandya is injured and not cleared to play yet, Bumrah has been rested and Shreyas Iyer is leading the T20I team in Japan for the Asian Games and will return for the T20I series. 

In Pandya’s absence, Nitish Kumar Reddy is the team’s frontline seam-bowling all-rounder and comes off a successful series against Afghanistan. Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is also set to play his first ODI since January 2026 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 Krishan 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.

The batting unit is led by captain Shubman Gill with Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli at the top of the order. With no Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, who is the vice-captain of the team, will have added responsibility with Naman Dhir getting a maiden call up to the ODI team as well. 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 with the Asian Games squad, the Indian order doesn’t have a left-hander in their top 5, which could be an issue with the lack of variety. 

The Windies, like India, also have a couple of senior names missing as Shai Hope leads a team mixed with youth and exciting talent. John Campbell, Keacy Carty and Sherfan Rutherford are the main batters in the West Indies squad along with captain Hope. Shimron Hetmyer will join the squad for the T20I leg.  The West Indies, as they have in the last couple of decades, have a host of all-rounders with Roston Chase, Justin Greaves and Keemo Paul being the all-rounders in the squad while the former captain and star all-rounder Jason Holder has been rested for this tour. 

West Indies have an exciting pace attack with the likes of Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales while Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase will be main spinners and will be key in turning Indian conditions. Matt Forder, Greaves, Keemo Paul all provide Shai Hope an added bowling unit as well. 

The Greenfield strip has generally brought plenty of runs and like most pitches in India provides some assistance for the spinners and slower bowlers as well. Given India’s top heavy batting, we could see a big score from the hosts if they bat first. We expect lots of runs with spinners from both teams having some help as well. Both teams are missing a couple of big names but the hosts’ squad depth, talent and firepower at disposal makes them a clear favourite in 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