By Pulse India Sports Desk · · Sports
India begin their home ODI season in Thiruvananthapuram with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in the squad. For West Indies, the series is a test of progress before a separate World Cup qualification campaign.
There are two stories inside this series opener. Captain Shubman Gill must balance established ODI names with auditions for the places around them. Shai Hope’s West Indies, meanwhile, want evidence that their batting and bowling can hold up away from home against a leading side.
Cricket West Indies has confirmed that automatic qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup is beyond its reach in the current cycle, irrespective of these results. The team will have to play a qualifier next year. That makes the India series valuable as preparation, even if it cannot repair the qualification table.
India’s central question: who owns No. 4?
Gill, Rohit and Kohli give India an experienced top three, with KL Rahul offering a proven middle-order option. Shreyas Iyer is outside this ODI squad, opening a place that Ruturaj Gaikwad could fill. India could also use the series to examine how Nitish Kumar Reddy fits beside Ravindra Jadeja and their frontline bowlers.
Yashasvi Jaiswal provides an alternative at the top, while Dhruv Jurel and Naman Dhir add other batting options. With Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj in the squad, the pace combination remains another decision for the toss. None of those choices is a confirmed playing XI.
Where West Indies can challenge
Hope and Keacy Carty are the batting pair India will be keen to separate. Cricket West Indies says they have combined for 2,554 ODI runs across 33 innings since 2024. John Campbell returns after a hamstring problem, and Jewel Andrew comes in as a top or middle-order option.
West Indies have several ways to shape their attack: Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales offer pace, Matthew Forde and Roston Chase can contribute across disciplines, and Gudakesh Motie brings left-arm spin. The balance they choose will depend on conditions and the final XI.
The opening passage at Greenfield
The new ball could set the match’s direction. If West Indies dismiss one of India’s senior batters early, the hosts’ middle-order combination will face an immediate test. If India’s seamers make early inroads into Campbell and Carty, Hope may have to rebuild before the visitors can attack in the later overs.
West Indies are also trying to end a long wait for an ODI series victory in India: their last came in 2002. They lost by nine wickets on their previous ODI visit to this venue in 2018. Those results supply context, but the toss, conditions and selected XIs will matter more on Sunday.
Probable playing XIs
India (projected): Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
Gaikwad would get the first opportunity at No. 4 in this combination, while Rahul and Reddy give the batting order depth. Siraj, Prasidh and Gurnoor provide three pace options, with Jadeja and Kuldeep covering spin; India could alter that balance after assessing the surface.
West Indies (projected): John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (captain, wicketkeeper), Amir Jangoo, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales.
This XI puts Hope and Carty at the centre of the innings and uses Chase and Forde to extend both batting and bowling. Jewel Andrew is another option for a batting place, while Vitel Lawes could come into contention if West Indies want an additional spin choice.
Selection note: These are editorial projections, not confirmed teams. The playing XIs will be announced at the toss.
Squads
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Naman Dhir.
West Indies: Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales.
