India open their three-match ODI series against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, marking the start of their preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup in Southern Africa. The hosts field the series without Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, two players central to their bowling balance.
India’s Squad Gaps and Selection Choices
India have played three ODI series this year and lost two. Injuries and a focus on the T20 World Cup, which they won, kept them from fielding their first-choice XI regularly. Bumrah and Pandya remain unavailable again, leaving all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, only recently back to full fitness, to potentially bowl his full quota of ten overs.
Several regular players, including Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel, are with the T20I squad at the Asian Games instead. Captain Shubman Gill took a blow to the elbow in the nets but has been declared fit to play. India could hand Naman Dhir a debut in the middle order if they opt for a batting-heavy XI, or turn to Gurnoor Brar or debutant Auqib Nabi if they prioritize bowling depth.
West Indies Look to End a Long Losing Run
West Indies have not won a bilateral 50-over series against India since 2006, and their last series win on Indian soil came in 2002. They also face a longer road to the 2027 World Cup, needing to go through the Qualifier for the third straight time. Sherfane Rutherford will sit out the opener for a personal matter and is expected to rejoin the squad before the second match, opening a possible opportunity for Amir Jangoo.
John Campbell returns to open the batting after recovering from surgery, with Justin Greaves a likely partner following his stint in that role during the five-match series against New Zealand in July. Shamar Joseph, who has featured in nine ODIs since his 2024 debut, is competing for a bowling spot alongside Jayden Seales, Matthew Forde and Alzarri Joseph.
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Key Players and Conditions to Watch
Virat Kohli enters the series 59 runs short of 15,000 ODI runs and averages 66.50 against West Indies, giving him a strong chance of reaching the landmark in Thiruvananthapuram. His strike rate has climbed to 106.66 across six matches in 2026, the only year besides 2018 in which he has finished above a hundred.
Alzarri Joseph returns to the West Indies squad fresh off a CPL title with Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, following a public disagreement earlier this year with head coach Daren Sammy over his omission from the Pakistan Test series.
The Greenfield International Stadium has hosted two previous ODIs and ranks third among Indian venues for seam bowling average. West Indies were bowled out for 104 here in 2018, undone largely by Ravindra Jadeja’s four-wicket haul. Since the last World Cup, West Indies average just 28.09 against spin, a number only Zimbabwe fares worse than among the established ODI sides.
India’s top three have averaged 53.34 in the same period, compared to West Indies’ 29.35, though Shai Hope has been the standout middle-order batter across all teams, scoring 1,350 runs at an average of 50. No rain is forecast for the opening match.
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