India vs West Indies Live Score, 1st ODI: Shubman Gill wins toss as India opt to field first; Naman Dhir make

IND vs WI Live Score: India have luxury of experimenting, West Indies don't The first ODI presents two very different situations for India and West Indies. India, ranked ten places above West Indies in the ODI standings, can afford to test their backups, make changes and explore combinations while still giving their leading players much-needed match practice before the World Cup. West Indies have no such luxury in terms of qualification. Their hopes of automatically making the World Cup are over, meaning they will have to take the Qualifier route five months from now. That makes the India series an important measuring stick. Daren Sammy has called it a great opportunity to challenge and assess the team in ODIs, while Shai Hope acknowledged that facing India in their backyard would be a tough uphill battle..India vs West Indies Live: What makes India vs West Indies opener intriguing India and West Indies bring contrasting storylines into their first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram. India are looking towards a World Cup a year away, with selection questions around No.4 and their pace combination. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma remain central figures, while Shubman Gill's brief injury scare added another talking point before the opener. West Indies are entering a rebuilding phase after missing automatic World Cup qualification. Their last bilateral ODI series win over India came in 2006, and India have won all 13 series between the sides since. Shai Hope remains their key batting figure, while the return of Jewel Andrew and the presence of Amir Jangoo add intrigue. The opener therefore offers India a chance to build and West Indies a chance to test themselves..IND vs WI Live Score: West Indies attack has plenty of variety West Indies enter the ODI series with several different bowling options at their disposal. Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales can provide swing and seam, while Alzarri Joseph offers a threat during the middle overs. Vitel Lawes adds another dimension to the attack. The side does not have the same left-arm pace option, but there is still considerable depth across the bowling group. Gudakesh Motie brings spin into the equation, while the team must also decide between Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph for one place in the probable XI. Against an Indian batting line-up that has averaged 39.25 runs per wicket since the last World Cup, West Indies' variety will be tested from the outset..India vs West Indies Live: West Indies need to improve against spin West Indies' numbers against spin provide an obvious area for improvement ahead of their India challenge. Since the end of the last World Cup, they have averaged 28.09 against spin, better than only Zimbabwe among the traditional ODI teams. That record becomes especially relevant against an Indian attack featuring Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Jadeja rarely gives batters easy scoring opportunities, while Kuldeep provides a different threat through his wicket-taking ability. West Indies will need their batters to find a way through that challenge if they are to compete against India's strong top order. Their ability to counter spin could shape the outcome of the three-match series..IND vs WI Live Score: Greenfield Stadium could offer seamers a say The Greenfield International Stadium has hosted only two previous ODIs, but its limited history still offers an interesting clue for the opening match. The venue has the third-best bowling average for seamers among grounds in India, with seamers averaging 25.35. That could bring India's and West Indies' pace attacks into focus. West Indies have several options capable of exploiting movement, with Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales offering swing and seam, Alzarri Joseph providing a middle-overs threat and Vitel Lawes adding an X-factor. There is also minimal threat of rain in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, leaving the quicks to make the most of the conditions available..IND vs WI Live Score: Nitish Reddy could have a bigger bowling role Nitish Kumar Reddy could be asked to shoulder a much bigger bowling workload when India face West Indies. With Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah absent from the ODI squad, India are short of both allround balance and fast-bowling depth. Reddy, who has only recently returned to full fitness himself, could be required to bowl his complete quota of 10 overs. That would represent a significant responsibility for the young allrounder. Morne Morkel has already indicated that Reddy can compete for the allrounder's spot, while India's team combination could depend on how much bowling they believe they can get from him. His role could influence the balance of the XI..India vs West Indies Live: John Campbell set to return at the top John Campbell is in line to return to the top of the West Indies batting order for the first ODI against India. Campbell has returned after surgery and is expected to reclaim his opening position. Justin Greaves could partner him, having stepped in for Campbell during two of West Indies' five ODIs against New Zealand in July. The opening combination will be important against an India attack that could include Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav. West Indies have struggled for consistency at the top, with their top three averaging 29.35 since the end of the last World Cup. Campbell's return gives the visitors another chance to strengthen that department..India vs West Indies Live: Shubman Gill scare adds another subplot for India India briefly had an injury scare ahead of the first ODI when captain Shubman Gill was struck on the elbow by a Mohammed Siraj delivery during practice. Gill left the nets and spent the rest of the session with an icepack on the affected area. He did not return to bat that day, raising concerns about his availability for the series opener. However, Sitanshu Kotak subsequently indicated that Gill would be good to play. India do have cover if there is a late change, with Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting for an opportunity at the top of the order. For now, the expectation is that Gill will lead India against West Indies, with Rohit Sharma likely to partner him at the top..IND vs WI Live Score: West Indies have a new challenge with Rutherford absent West Indies will begin the ODI series without Sherfane Rutherford, who is set to miss the opening match because of a personal matter. According to Cricket West Indies, Rutherford is expected to join the squad before the second ODI. His absence could open the door for Amir Jangoo, who is in line for an opportunity in the opening game. Jangoo is part of a West Indies side combining established names with players still building their international careers. The visitors will also have to decide on their bowling combination, with Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph competing for one position in the probable XI. The opening match could therefore provide opportunities for players outside the regular combination..India vs West Indies Live: India have been among ODI cricket's fastest scorers India's approach with the bat has been one of the notable features of their ODI cricket since the last World Cup. They have scored at 6.08 runs per over during this period, the second-highest rate among teams, behind England's 6.17. India have managed to maintain that scoring speed while averaging 39.25 runs per wicket. The numbers underline the balance between aggression and consistency that India have brought to the format. Virat Kohli's recent strike-rate surge adds another dimension to that approach. He has scored at 106.66 in ODIs in 2026, suggesting India's batting tempo could remain an important talking point during the West Indies series..India vs West Indies Live: Weather, humidity and new-ball challenge in focus Weather conditions could add another element to the opening ODI between India and West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram. The weather remained largely clear in the two days leading into the match, although a brief but sharp spell of rain arrived around an hour before India's practice on September 25. The day before the opener remained hot and humid, with the India team opting out of practice apart from Auqib Nabi's batting stint. Morne Morkel described the conditions as good for batting, although he felt the new-ball phase could be a little challenging based on feedback from India's batters. West Indies also trained, though their session was not conducted at full intensity..IND vs WI 1st ODI: India's top order brings contrasting numbers India's top three have been among their strongest performers since the end of the last World Cup. The top three have averaged 53.34 during that period, highlighting the consistency available at the top of India's batting order. West Indies, by comparison, have a corresponding top-three average of 29.35. The difference is significant, but West Indies have their own standout performer in the middle order. Shai Hope has scored 1,350 runs since the end of the last World Cup, averaging 50 at a strike rate of 92.91. The series therefore pits India's high-performing top order against a West Indies batting line-up looking to build around Hope..IND vs WI Live: West Indies face a spin challenge in Thiruvananthapuram West Indies could face a major test against India's spinners in Thiruvananthapuram. Since the end of the last World Cup, West Indies have averaged only 28.09 against spin. Among the traditional ODI teams, only Zimbabwe have a lower average during that period. That makes the presence of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav particularly significant. Jadeja is known for keeping batters under pressure, while Kuldeep offers a wicket-taking threat. The venue has also previously produced problems for West Indies. When the teams met here in 2018, West Indies were bowled out for 104, with Jadeja claiming four wickets. How West Indies handle India's spin could become a major factor..IND vs WI 1st ODI: Alzarri Joseph returns after CPL triumph Alzarri Joseph enters the India series with momentum after helping Antigua and Barbuda Falcons win the CPL title. His return is another important development for West Indies, particularly after the fast bowler and head coach Daren Sammy had a public disagreement earlier this year. Joseph has made it clear that his focus remains on representing West Indies, regardless of his relationship with the coach. Sammy has also highlighted Joseph's return to the team at the start of the ODI series. For West Indies, Joseph provides a threat through the middle overs and adds experience to an attack that also includes Matthew Forde, Jayden Seales and Vitel Lawes..IND vs WI Live Score: Virat Kohli closes in on 15,000 ODI runs Virat Kohli could reach another major ODI milestone when India face West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram. Kohli is just 59 runs away from completing 15,000 ODI runs. His record against West Indies makes the possibility particularly intriguing, with the former India captain averaging 66.50 against them. Kohli has also been scoring at a faster rate in 2026. Across six matches this year, he has a strike rate of 106.66, a significant shift from his traditionally measured approach in the format. The only other year when Kohli finished an ODI calendar year with a strike rate above 100 was 2018. A milestone could therefore add another subplot to Sunday's opener..India vs West Indies Live Score: India still searching for first-choice ODI combination India's ODI preparations for the 2027 World Cup continue with another series where their first-choice combination remains unavailable. India have played three ODI series this year and lost two, with injuries and their focus on the T20 World Cup affecting their ability to field their strongest side. For the West Indies series, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are again absent. Their absence leaves India short of the allround balance and fast-bowling quality they bring to the XI. Nitish Kumar Reddy could therefore have a bigger role with the ball, potentially bowling his full quota of 10 overs. India will be looking to use the series to find solutions before the World Cup.