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India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first against West Indies in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
The match marks the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to India's ODI side, with both senior batters featuring in the playing XI after their recent break from international cricket.
Gill had been under observation after suffering an elbow scare during India's practice session earlier this week, but he has been cleared to lead the side in the series opener.
India choose to bowl first
After winning the toss, Gill said India wanted to make use of the conditions while expecting the pitch to improve under the lights.
India have gone with a combination featuring four specialist bowlers and two all-rounders, with the team also using the match to assess its ODI combination ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
West Indies will bat first, with captain Shai Hope leading a side featuring John Campbell, Justin Greaves and Keacy Carty at the top of the order.
Naman Dhir makes ODI debut
The biggest selection development for India is the international debut of Naman Dhir.
The Punjab and Mumbai Indians all-rounder has been included in India's XI as the team continues to test options for the middle order and bowling combination.
Dhir joins an India side that also includes Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav and three pace options.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return
All eyes will be on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are back in India's ODI XI.
The pair have retired from Test and T20I cricket and now feature only in the ODI format for India. Their return gives the series added significance as India continues preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Kohli also recently confirmed that the 2027 World Cup will be his final World Cup for India, making his return to ODI cricket particularly significant.
Confirmed playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), Naman Dhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Gurnoor Brar, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
West Indies: John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (c/wk), Amir Jangoo, Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales.
West Indies have opted for a pace-heavy attack, with Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph and Matthew Forde providing the main fast-bowling options. Roston Chase and Gudakesh Motie are the two spin choices.
India vs West Indies 1st ODI live score
The first ODI is being played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, with the match scheduled to begin at 2 PM IST.
Follow the live score, ball-by-ball commentary, scorecard and match updates on CricketSky:
India vs West Indies 1st ODI — Live Score & Ball-by-Ball Updates
The second ODI will be played in Guwahati on September 30, followed by the third ODI in New Chandigarh on October 3.
