Sep 27·Sports
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India beats West Indies toss, bowls first in ODI series opener
India won the toss and chose to bowl first in the opening ODI against West Indies on September 27, with all-rounder Naman Dhir making his ODI debut. The three-match series serves as preparation for the 2027 World Cup Qualifiers, featuring the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to ODI cricket. In the second ODI on September 30, pacer Auqib Nabi made his ODI debut for India, becoming the third cricketer from Jammu & Kashmir to play international cricket.
Quick Facts
- India won toss and elected to bowl first
- Naman Dhir made ODI debut in first ODI
- Auqib Nabi made ODI debut in second ODI
- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to ODI cricket
- West Indies made four changes for second ODI


India's captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first in the opening ODI of a three-match series against West Indies at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 2026. The decision came on a pitch expected to favour batting, with Gill stating India intended to chase under the lights. India fielded a combination of four specialist bowlers and two all-rounders, including pace options Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar, alongside spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Notably, batting all-rounder Naman Dhir made his ODI debut for India, while star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to international cricket after retiring from Tests and T20s.
West Indies, captained by Shai Hope, opted for a pace-heavy attack featuring fast bowlers Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph and Matthew Forde, supplemented by medium-pace and spin options. Hope acknowledged the quick turnaround for his team, stating they aimed to replicate recent form from the Caribbean Premier League. The series serves as crucial preparation for the 2027 World Cup Qualifiers, where West Indies seek to fine-tune their combination after missing direct qualification based on ODI rankings. For India, the contest provides preparation for the World Cup and an opportunity to test combinations with approximately 20 matches remaining before the tournament.
In the second ODI on September 30 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Auqib Nabi, a 29-year-old pacer from Jammu & Kashmir, made his ODI debut, replacing Nitish Kumar Reddy. Nabi became the third cricketer from Jammu & Kashmir to play international cricket, following spinner Parvez Rasool and pacer Umran Malik. The 29-year-old brought 36 List A appearances and 56 wickets to his debut, with an average of 27.37 and prior experience including a century in domestic cricket. West Indies made four changes to their lineup, including a forced change as centurion Justin Greaves suffered a calf injury, with Keacy Carty moving to open in his place.
Topics
Why This Matters
India and West Indies are using this three-match ODI series (September 27–30, 2026) as preparation for the 2027 World Cup Qualifiers, where West Indies must fine-tune their combination after missing direct qualification by ODI rankings. India has approximately 20 matches remaining before the World Cup and is testing player combinations with the return of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to ODI cricket. The series provides measurable performance data for squad selection and tactical preparation, with debuts by debutants Naman Dhir and Auqib Nabi contributing to India's bowling and all-rounder depth.
Timeline & Sources
Sep 27, 2026
WireFirst ODI: India wins toss, opts to bowl; Naman Dhir makes ODI debut at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Sep 30, 2026
WireSecond ODI: Auqib Nabi makes ODI debut at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati; West Indies make four changes including Justin Greaves ruled out with calf injury
Oct 4, 2026
WireThird ODI scheduled in Chandigarh
Oct 6, 2026
WireFive-match T20 series begins
Sources
- India West Indies Odi Cricket 3031d8740aa1ebf0fe618a311f1ef5a4apWireSep 27, 2026
- India wins toss in West Indies clash, opt to bowl first; Naman Dhir makes international debutBig News Network.comMediaSep 27, 2026
- IND vs WI: Auqib Nabi makes his ODI debut, becomes 3rd cricketer to achieve rare featSportsTakMediaSep 30, 2026