West Indies vs India Live Score, 1st ODI of West Indies tour of India, 2026

Over and out - That's all from a night Thiruvananthapuram won't forget in a hurry. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli both brought up centuries, and Kuldeep Yadav shone with a four-fer. West Indies had their moments, with Justin Greaves' maiden ODI ton among them, but they will need a far more complete performance across all three departments if they are to level things up. The two sides will meet again at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati for the 2nd ODI on Wednesday, 30th September. The first ball will be bowled at 8.30 am GMT (2 pm IST), but as always, you can join us early for the buildup. Until then, take care and goodbye!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - For figures of 4 for 40 in his 10 overs, Kuldeep Yadav has been given the award. He admits it felt a little awkward to receive the award after Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill's performances. On his bowling, Kuldeep says he enjoyed his rhythm and felt calm throughout his spell. Mentions that he focused on varying his pace, reading the batters well and trusting his instincts. Adds that when you enjoy your bowling, that is when you tend to produce your best performances. Kuldeep says a spell like this can go a long way in regaining his confidence. Yadav believes that there is still room for improvement, and his focus is to stick to the same rhythm irrespective of the format. When asked by Harsha Bhogle how his football team (FC Barcelona) is doing, Kuldeep reveals his love for the sport and says he has followed football from a young age. He is enjoying Barcelona's current run, with the club sitting top of the league standings, and has particularly liked the style of football they have been playing.

The victorious Indian skipper - Shubman Gill says that he should have finished the game, but he is quick to add that he is happy and satisfied with the way he played. When he is asked about the three fours he struck in a row off Alzarri Joseph's over and which one he personally enjoyed the most, he singles out the front-foot drive through covers as his favourite of the three. On Kuldeep Yadav, he says a bowler of his quality is a wicket-taker whenever he has the ball in hand. Gill also credits him with dragging India back into a game they were on the back foot in, picking up crucial wickets at just the right time. On Virat Kohli's batting, Gill says he is in superb touch and looks like he is enjoying the game far more these days, playing with a real sense of freedom. He points out that Kohli has always had the ability to clear the ropes whenever he chooses, and given how many matches he has already won for the country, Gill feels he has more than earned the right to bat however he pleases. On the makeup of the batting order, Gill notes that India would ideally want an eighth batting option capable of chipping in with around 25 runs when called upon, and adds that the team remains open to experimenting with different combinations to find the right balance.

The captain of West Indies - Shai Hope feels they were 60-80 runs short and says they needed to make better use of the platform they had after the strong start from the openers. He praises the opening pair but feels they got stuck during the middle phase, making things difficult for themselves at the back end. Hope mentions that when you have 295 to defend, you need everything to go right, and a couple of chances going down certainly did not help their cause. He adds that irrespective of the total, you always have to believe you can defend it. Shares that they will take the learnings from this game and find ways to get better as a team.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

A platform left uncapitalised - After being asked to bat first, the Windies gave India a proper working over early on, with a 135-run opening stand. Justin Greaves brought up his maiden ODI century and put the tourists on course for something well past 300. But then Kuldeep Yadav, who had been going through a quiet patch, rediscovered his mojo and ripped through the middle order. His four-wicket haul brought India right back into it, though a late flurry from Amir Jangoo meant the Windies still got up to 295.

Gill and Kohli power India home - Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got things going with a brisk 74-run opening stand before Rohit fell for 32, but Gill carried on to bring up his 10th ODI century. Virat Kohli settled in quickly alongside him, and the two put together a 151-run stand that effectively sealed the chase for the home side. Kohli went on to complete a century of his own and, along the way, brought up 15,000 ODI runs, becoming only the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the mark. West Indies were made to pay dearly for dropping Gill when he was on 11. They lacked bite with the new ball, and through the middle phase just went through the motions. Batting seemingly got easier under the lights, and with Justin Greaves unable to take the field after battling a right leg issue during the batting innings, it only added to the headache for Shai Hope.

Let's hear from the man of the moment - Virat Kohli, on reaching 15,000 ODI runs and becoming the fastest to the milestone, opens by thanking everyone for the kind words, but is quick to add that milestones have never really occupied his mind. He explains that his job has simply been to read the situation and do what the team needs, with any personal numbers arriving as a byproduct rather than a target. He calls himself grateful and blessed to have played this long, and says the plan remains unchanged, keeping the head down, putting in the work, and thanking whatever has made this journey possible. He reflects on how fortunate this life is, pointing out that so many people would give anything to be in this position, which is precisely why the only response is to work hard every single day. On what allows him to keep performing so consistently, he credits a deep understanding of the game first, followed closely by physical fitness, reasoning that cricket at his stage is played mostly in the mind. He admits practice has never been his thing, even across three formats, and says the real work lies in staying mentally fresh and present, letting himself express his batting naturally. He speaks of a personal challenge at this point in his career, pushing himself to play with an extra gear, and says unlocking a new version of his game excites him, whether it benefits India or his franchise side. He credits this freedom of mind for his current form, but stresses that a free mind depends entirely on a fit body, since staying physically sharp is what lets him visualise an innings and then go out and execute it exactly as planned. On his headspace at this stage of life and career, he says gratitude and happiness sum it up best. He believes looking back at where the journey began is something players often forget once fame, attention and love from fans take over, but revisiting that starting point as a child keeps him grounded. He says he savours every moment of playing for India, aware that things could easily have gone the other way and he might never have worn the jersey at all. Getting to represent his country in front of massive crowds, he says, is everything he ever dreamt of as a cricketer, and that leaves him with nothing but gratitude, a desire to keep working hard, and hopefully a smile that spreads to others too. When asked for a message to young players about remembering why they started and preserving their love for the game, he calls it an uncomfortable truth that athletes rarely confront, that everything could end after any given match, yet the responsibility to play the way you want remains constant. He says reminding yourself of that every time you take the field unlocks a positive, risk-taking mindset, the kind that wins matches. His advice to youngsters is simple: leave everything outside the boundary rope behind once you step onto the ground, put the body on the line, and if the situation demands running four twos in an over even at the 150th delivery, there is no excuse not to. On whether playing fewer formats has sharpened his clarity and calmed his nerves when opportunities arise, he agrees clarity is exactly the word. With a year still to go before the World Cup, he says his goals are clear, working on different facets of his game, staying fit, challenging himself physically, sprinting the boundaries in the closing overs, and bringing intensity into the field. He says ticking those boxes consistently is what matters, and with time still left in this format, he wants to enjoy every single day rather than approach chances with anxiety. He reiterates a personal promise to keep playing positively, but draws a clear line against recklessness, trusting his experience to walk that tightrope without letting the team down. On his partnership with Shubman Gill and what makes it click, along with Gill's growth into the captaincy, Kohli says there is a clear reason the young man leads the side, crediting his perspective on how to steer the team through different match situations. He says building a partnership with someone who already knows what needs doing comes naturally, and with a batter of Gill's calibre, sitting among the very best in the world, there is little left to say beyond the odd tactical word here and there. Says it becomes simply about stringing partnerships together and honouring the talent within the group, and in the field, whenever Gill needs support, Kohli says he is always ready to provide it.

India go up 1-0 - A chase made to look easy by the Men in Blue, with the chase master at it again. A lesson in defeat for West Indies, who will need to put together a complete game if they are to challenge this Indian side. The Windies did not manage to go on and make the most of the platform the way they should have, and with the ball, they just could not put up any sort of fight.

SIX! And there's the winning hit. Fittingly, Kohli finishes off in style. India win by 8 wickets and 50 balls to spare! The Trivandrum crowd applauds, applauds and keeps applauding. They came to see their stars twinkle, and twinkle they did. The fans have certainly got their money’s worth. Short of a length on middle and leg. There is no pace or venom on the ball to trouble Kohli and he simply rocks back before pulling it handsomely behind deep backward square leg for a biggie. In God’s Own Country, the chase master has delivered a knock to savour, one that will live long in the memory.

SIX! Another gem of a shot! A juicy half-volley at the pads. Easy pickings for Kohli as he whips it aerially, using his wrists and deposits it into the crowd behind deep backward square leg. India are just 2 runs away from winning.

Short again, on the bodyline, Gaikwad hops on the toes and tucks it wide of mid on for a single.

At a gentle pace, short in length, on off. Kohli looks to heave it powerfully but loses his shape and the ball rolls off the inner half of his bat to deep mid-wicket for a single. India need 9 runs to win.

THREE WIDES! Wayward by Carty, down leg, on a good length. Kohli tries to help it away but fails to connect. Shai Hope can't gather it cleanly despite the dive to his left. It brushes the keeper's gloves and dribbles towards fine leg. Kohli takes the first run hard and by the time the short third fielder can get to the ball and release the throw, he is home.

India need just 13 runs to win. Keacy Carty to have a bowl now.

DROPPED! Keemo Paul shells it. A tougher chance than the one he put down earlier when Shubman Gill was on 11, but it adds to what has been a forgettable outing in the field for Paul as a sub fielder. Joseph hits a good length on middle, Kohli swings hard and skies it high towards deep mid-wicket. Paul runs across to his left but never quite settles underneath it, and the ball clips his fingertips before threatening to trickle into the fence. The long on fielder gets across to tidy up. Joseph can only look on in disbelief.

FOUR! Stand and deliver! Cross-seam ball, on a good length, on middle. Kohli puts his head down and swings it away as he clubs it to the right of long on for a four.

Bowled on a back of a length, on off. Gaikwad knocks it off the back foot to deep point for a single.

Slides onto the pads, a bit fuller. Kohli picks it up off the pads and plays it behind square leg. The fielder runs in off the ropes but can only pick it up on the bounce. Just a single.

FOUR! Hold the pose, Virat. Not a bad ball by any means. On a back of a length, just around the off pole. Kohli stays beside the line and presents a straight bat. Lofts it with a high elbow back over the bowler's head. One bounce and over the ropes.

This is angled in at the hips. Gaikwad hangs back and nurdles it square on the leg side for a single.

Just the last rites left to be completed in this contest. India need 25 more runs.

FOUR! Finds the gap with expert precision. Length delivery, wide outside off, Virat Kohli waits back and slaps it to the deep cover region where the sweeper dives to his right but his effort goes in vain. Kohli moves to 116.

SIX! Into the crowd! Belligerent hitting and one can see the West Indian players go into complete submission now. Pitched fuller and around the off stump, Virat Kohli jumps down the track and effortlessly lofts it over deep extra cover for a six.

Around off at 88.7 kph, on off. Gaikwad drives it through cover-point for a single.

Full, quick, on middle, Gaikwad flicks it to mid on.

Trouble averted. Fuller in length, on middle, Gaikwad clips it to mid-wicket. Kohli looks to steal a run but is sent back from almost halfway.

Lobbed up, full on middle, this is pushed back to the bowler.

Another swing and a miss! Back of a length, angling in on middle and off. Virat Kohli looks to pull but the ball skids through to beat the inside edge.

Full and tailing in at the pads. Gaikwad flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple of easy runs.