India secured a commanding eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the opening ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium, anchored by masterful centuries from Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill. The hosts comfortably overhauled a 295-run target with 50 balls to spare, turning a potentially competitive chase into a one-sided affair.
The foundation for the successful pursuit was laid by Rohit Sharma, who provided a brisk start with a 35-ball 32. Following his departure, Kohli and Gill combined for a dominant 151-run partnership for the second wicket. Gill, displaying his trademark drives and cuts, reached his 10th ODI century before retiring due to cramps, finishing with 110 off 108 deliveries. Kohli remained unbeaten on 139 from 88 balls, a knock that included his 55th ODI century and saw him surpass the 15,000-run milestone in the format.
Kuldeep Yadav Spins India to Control
Earlier in the day, the West Indies innings was defined by a strong start from their opening pair. Justin Greaves anchored the visitors with a maiden ODI century, scoring 101 off 108 balls, while John Campbell contributed a rapid 62 off 60 deliveries. The duo shared a 135-run opening stand, marking the first time in two years that the West Indies had achieved a century partnership in the format.
However, the momentum shifted decisively when Kuldeep Yadav entered the attack. The wrist-spinner dismantled the West Indies middle order, finishing with impressive figures of 4-40 from his 10 overs. Kuldeep broke the opening stand by dismissing Campbell, who was caught by Prasidh Krishna while attempting a sweep. He then accounted for captain Shai Hope, who fell to a leading edge, before trapping Greaves lbw. The spinner completed his four-wicket haul by dismissing Jewel Andrew with a googly on the very next delivery, effectively stalling the visitors' progress and restricting them to 295-7.
A Clinical Performance in Thiruvananthapuram
The match served as a significant turnaround for Kuldeep, who had struggled during the recent Test series in Sri Lanka. His ability to stifle the scoring rate and claim key wickets proved vital in keeping the target within reach for the Indian batting lineup. For the West Indies, despite the promising start provided by Greaves and Campbell, the middle-order collapse prevented them from posting a more challenging total on a surface that ultimately favored the chasing side.
India’s clinical display with both ball and bat ensured they took an early lead in the series, with the top-order performance highlighting the team's depth and form. The hosts will look to carry this momentum forward as the series progresses.
