India start three-match ODI series against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram on Sept 26, 2026
India begin a three-match One-Day International series against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, September 26, 2026, a series described in the report as the start of their ODI World Cup roadmap with the tournament a year away. The first match is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
All tickets for the opening game were sold within hours, leaving many local fans unable to secure seats; one young supporter who lives near the Greenfield Stadium said he missed logging in early and later approached the black market, where tickets were being offered at three times the official price. The article notes the continued appeal of the 50-over format and argues it offers more than T20 cricket for many spectators.
The report states that while India view the series as preparation for next year’s World Cup, the West Indies must first qualify for that tournament. It reminds readers that the West Indies were the winners of the first two editions of the World Cup and lost to India in the final of the third.
Two of India’s senior batsmen, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, will be central attractions: Kohli is listed as 37 and Rohit as 39, and the piece notes both are currently playing only ODIs for India. Kohli needs 59 more runs to reach 15,000 ODI runs, while Rohit requires 105 to reach 12,000, figures cited in the report.
Shubman Gill is named as India’s captain and identified in the article as the world’s No. 1 batter in the format and described as being in sublime form. The report adds that India will not have their strongest possible XI because of the Asian Games and injury concerns, creating opportunities for players such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, Auqib Nabi and Naman Dhir.
The West Indies are led by Shai Hope, and the report records that the tourists have not won an ODI series in India since 2002. The article lists the West Indies squad as: Shai Hope (Capt.), John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Matthew Forde, Roston Chase, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph, Jewel Andrew, Vitel Lawes and Keemo Paul.
India’s squad is listed in the report as: Shubman Gill (Capt.), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi and Naman Dhir.
The first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, 2026, the opening match of the three-game series that India are using as the commencement of their preparations for the World Cup a year away.