India vs West Indies 1st ODI: Match Time, Playing XIs, Weather and Viewing Guide
India and West Indies begin their three-match ODI series at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The opening game brings Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back into India’s 50-over side, while Shai Hope leads a West Indies squad seeking greater consistency after a competitive home series against New Zealand.
India won the toss and elected to bowl first. Batting all-rounder Naman Dhir received his ODI debut, while Mohammed Siraj was not included in the final XI.
Match details
- Match: India vs West Indies, first ODI
- Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026
- Start time: 2:00 PM IST
- Toss: 1:30 PM IST
- Venue: Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
- Format: Day-night, 50 overs per side
Playing XIs
The pre-match combinations were confirmed at the toss, with India choosing a deep batting order supported by several all-round options.
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Naman Dhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna.
West Indies: John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (captain and wicketkeeper), Amir Jangoo, Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales.
India have selected four specialist bowlers alongside Jadeja, Reddy and Dhir. West Indies have left out Sherfane Rutherford and Shamar Joseph, preferring Jewel Andrew in the middle order and a pace combination of Forde, Joseph and Seales.
Pitch and weather
Greenfield has hosted only two previous men’s ODIs, and those matches produced sharply different outcomes. West Indies were restricted to 104 for nine before India completed a comfortable chase in 2018. In 2023, India amassed 390 for five and dismissed Sri Lanka for 73.
That limited sample makes a reliable par score difficult to establish. The new ball can move in the humid coastal conditions, but batters who negotiate the opening spell should receive value for their shots. The large boundaries also keep wrist-spin and left-arm spin in the game during the middle overs.
Temperatures around the start were expected to be close to 33 degrees Celsius, with cloud increasing during the afternoon and evening but no major rain signal. Dew may develop under the lights, potentially making the ball harder to grip and improving conditions for the chasing side. India’s decision to bowl first reflects that possibility.
Where to watch
The match is being televised in India across the Star Sports network. Live streaming is available through the JioHotstar app and website. A free-to-air television feed is also available on DD Sports through DD Free Dish.
Recent ODI form
India enter the series after losing 2-1 in England in July. Shubman Gill’s team won the opening ODI by six wickets but lost the next two, including a high-scoring series finale at Lord’s. The return to home conditions offers an opportunity to settle roles in the top six and test the balance created by Reddy, Jadeja and Dhir.
West Indies were beaten 3-2 by New Zealand in their most recent ODI series. They won the first match and recovered to take the fifth by two wickets, but three consecutive defeats in between highlighted the need for greater stability. Hope and Carty have been central to their recent batting progress, while Campbell’s return strengthens the opening combination.
Key player matchups
Rohit Sharma versus Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales: West Indies will want early movement and hard lengths against Rohit before he can control the powerplay. Joseph’s pace and Seales’ accuracy make the first six overs particularly important.
Virat Kohli versus Gudakesh Motie: Motie’s left-arm spin is West Indies’ main middle-over weapon. Kohli’s ability to rotate the strike without taking excessive risk could determine whether India accelerate smoothly or become tied down.
Shai Hope and Keacy Carty versus Kuldeep Yadav: Hope and Carty provide the visitors’ foundation, but Kuldeep can challenge both with drift and changes of pace. India will view the middle overs as their best opportunity to disrupt West Indies’ innings.
Matthew Forde versus India’s lower middle order: Forde offers new-ball control and late-order hitting. His contest with Jadeja and Reddy could influence both the closing overs of West Indies’ innings and India’s response if the chase tightens.
India begin as favourites at home, but West Indies possess enough new-ball pace and top-order experience to create pressure. How the surface changes after sunset may be decisive.
