Former Indian captain Virat Kohli had another record-breaking day, where he and captain Shubman Gill scored brilliant centuries to smoothly guide India to a successful chase of 296 runs in the first game of the three-match ODI series.
Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram hosted the ODI series opener, where India chose to field first. Despite West Indies got a strong start, India restricted them to 295/7 in 50 overs. In reply, with the twin centuries from Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, India chased down the target in just 41.4 overs after losing only two wickets.
Kuldeep Yadav four-fer restricted strong-starter West Indies
West Indies openers John Campbell and Justin Greaves had a 135-run partnership for the first wicket. However, the left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav later dominated with the ball, as West Indies suddenly struggled in the middle overs. After Campbell was dismissed for 62 off 60 balls (six fours and three sixes), West Indies lost the plot with dried boundaries, as they were struggling at 198/5, losing four wickets for 22 runs in 34 balls.
Greaves scored 101 off 108 balls with 12 fours before Kuldeep sent him back to the pavilion with a confident lbw review. In the struggling moment, Amir Jangoo played a brilliant knock of 58 not out off 43 balls with seven fours and one six to carry the first innings total to 290+ runs.
Kuldeep Yadav played an important role restricting the visitors to under 300, while once it was confidently seeming to 330-350 runs, at least. The left-arm wrist spinner had the bowling figures of 10-0-40-4, as he became the match-winner to win the Player of the Match award. Also, Prasidh Krishna got two wickets (2/60), while Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/45) picked up one wicket.
Captain Shubman Gill shone with his 10th ODI century
In reply, both Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill had the early luck, as both were dropped once early in the innings, and they successfully managed to capitalise those chances. Openers had the 74-run partnership before the former Indian T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit was dismissed for 32 runs (two fours and three sixes).
Skipper Gill and the no.3 legendary batter Kohli then had an outstanding 151-run partnership for the second wicket that secured the game strongly. Gill scored 110 off 108 balls with 13 fours and one six, and Kohli continued his impressive batting and controlled the chase completely after the dismissal of Gill.
Virat Kohli magic continues: 15,000 ODI runs and 55th ODI century
Kohli had to score 59 runs to complete 15,000 ODI runs, as he broke legendary Indian Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the fastest 15,000 ODI runs, while becoming the second batter after Tendulkar to reach this feat. In his 303rd ODI innings, Kohli completed 15,000 ODI runs comfortably.
Later, Kohli completed his 55th ODI century in just 74 balls, as the right-handed batter remained not out for 139 off 88 balls with 10 fours and nine sixes. He ended the game with two back-to-back sixes.
Key Virat Kohli milestones in India vs West Indies 2026 Thiruvananthapuram ODI
Virat Kohli completed 15,000 ODI runs. After Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 ODI runs), Kohli became the second batter to reach this feat.
Virat Kohli became the fastest to complete 15,000 ODI runs. While Kohli completed it in his 303rd ODI innings, Tendulkar achieved that in 377 ODI innings.
Virat Kohli stretched his record for most ODI centuries with his 55th ODI century.