IND vs WI 2026/27, IND vs WI 1st ODI Match Preview

Big picture: WI’s long route to the World Cup

It is all about the 2027 ODI World Cup now. Every series that any team plays will be about putting things in place so that they have all bases covered by the time the first ball is bowled next October. West Indies have an extra box to tick given they have to run the gauntlet at the Qualfiier for the third successive time to make the ICC event.

India have played three ODI series this year and lost two of them. For various reasons – injuries, focus on the T20 World Cup, which they won – they have struggled to put their first-choice team on the park and are once again without Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, the allrounder who balances the XI and a once-in-a-generation fast bowler. For all the hoops they must jump through, it is unfathomable that India will line up without either of them in Southern Africa if they are even halfway ready to play.

Neither is with the ODI team at the moment, which leaves the bowling side of things a little light. Back-up allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy – only recently at full fitness himself – might have to get used to bowling his full 10 overs. An opposition team might see that as an opportunity.

West Indies have not won a bilateral 50-over series against India since 2006, and in India since 2002. Barring a left-arm quick, they have depth in their attack with Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales offering swing and seam, Alzarri Joseph for middle-overs threat and Vitel Lawes for X-factor. Shai Hope shepherds a batting line-up that has promise. These three ODIs – in addition to being valuable prep for bigger prizes in the future – have their own stakes.

India LLWWW (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
West Indies WLLLW

In the spotlight: Virat Kohli and Alzarri Joseph

Virat Kohli is 59 runs short of 15000 in ODIs and given he averages 66.50 against West Indies, there is a decent chance of history being made in Thiruvananthapuram. The one-day game is his best format primarily because he is able to keep up a good rate of scoring without having to take risks. Still, there has been a noticeable trend lately of Kohli looking to up his tempo, relying on the same shots he always does – drives and flicks and pulls – just playing them in the air. In six matches in 2026, he has a strike rate of 106.66 The only other year where he finished with a strike rate above 100 was 2018.

Alzarri Joseph and Daren Sammy had a falling out in public earlier this year over the fast bowler not playing the two Tests against Pakistan. At the start of this ODI series, the coach name-checked Joseph, highlighting that he is back in the team as a CPL champion. Either the ice has thawed or Joseph has been true to his words: “I’m a professional, so I’m going to go to work. I am representing the West Indies. I’m not representing Daren Sammy, so for me, I’m neither here nor there in terms of a relationship.”

Team news: Gill fit to play

India captain Shubman Gill is fit to play after taking a blow to the elbow in the nets. Several first-choice players are with the T20I side at the Asian Games, including Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel, which opens up a balance issue here. If India believe they can get ten overs out of Reddy, they might go batting heavy with their XI, giving Naman Dhir a debut in the middle order. If they prefer bowling cover, they might stick with Gurnoor Brar or call up Auqib Nabi for his debut

India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill (capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 8 Naman Dhir/Gurnoor Brar/Auqib Nabi, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Mohammed Siraj

Sherfane Rutherford will miss the opening ODI due to a personal matter, according to the CWI. He is expected to join the squad ahead of the second match. In his pace Amir Jangoo could get a game.

John Campbell will take his spot at the top of the order back after returning from surgery. Justin Greaves stepped in for him in two of the five ODIs against New Zealand in July and may partner him on Sunday. It remains to be seen if Shamar Joseph, who has played nine 50-over internationals since his debut in 2024 and finished his quota of 10 overs once, can push for a place in the XI

West Indies (probable) 1 John Campbell, 2 Justin Greaves, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Shai Hope (capt & wk), 5 Amir Jangoo, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Matthew Forde, 8 Gudakesh Motie, 9 Jayden Seales/Shamar Joseph, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Vitel Lawes

Pitch and conditions: Eyes on the quicks

The Greenfield International Stadium has hosted two previous ODIs. As small a sample size as that is, it is still the ground with the third-best bowling average (25.35) for seamers in India. West Indies were undone by spin when they played here in 2018, bowled out for 104 with Ravindra Jadeja picking up four wickets. There is minimal threat of rain in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Stats and trivia: Hope leads the way at No. 4

Source link

चलती ट्रेन पर पत्थर फेंकने का Video Viral, लोगों ने पूछा- क्यों...

Morning News Brief | BJP Congress Funding Crude Oil Price Mayawati News

‘He Has Got The Desire’: Virat Kohli Endorses Shubman Gill As India’s...

130 करोड़ के बजट और 92% का हुआ घाटा, जानें- अक्षय की...

CAIT Clarifies No UPI Day Statement

County Championship: Somerset build big lead against Surrey

Jaipur SI Recruitment Exam Video Viral