Virat Kohli Arrives in Thiruvananthapuram Ahead of India vs West Indies 1st ODI
Star Indian batter Virat Kohli has arrived in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on September 23, 2026, ahead of the first One-Day International against West Indies. The match, scheduled for September 27 at the Greenfield International Stadium, will see the 37-year-old batting maestro join the Shubman Gill-led Indian squad.
Thiruvananthapuram is abuzz with cricketing fever as former India captain and batting maestro, Virat Kohli, landed at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport today, September 23, 2026. His arrival marks the initial steps for Team India as they prepare for the much-anticipated first One-Day International (ODI) against the West Indies, scheduled for Sunday. Rinku Singh Backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to Win ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 for India.
Virat Kohli Arrives in Thiruvananthapuram
KING KOHLI IS BACK !!!! 👑 pic.twitter.com/gRPaEMbqS3
— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) September 23, 2026
Kohli, 37, was spotted in casual attire, flanked by security personnel, as he made his way through the airport. The West Indies team, led by captain Shai Hope, also arrived in the Kerala capital this morning, setting the stage for an exciting contest. The three-match ODI series is the curtain-raiser for a comprehensive white-ball tour that includes five Twenty20 Internationals.
India vs West Indies - Match Details
The series opener will take place at the picturesque Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. This match is a crucial part of India's home season for 2026-27, which also features tours by Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Australia.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | 1st ODI: India vs West Indies |
| Date | Sunday, September 27, 2026 |
| Start Time (IST) | 2:00 PM (Toss at 1:30 PM) |
| Venue | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Tournament Stage | West Indies tour of India, 2026 (ODI Series Match 1) |
Team India's Squad
India has announced a strong 15-member squad for the ODI series, with Shubman Gill taking the captaincy reins and KL Rahul named as vice-captain. The squad sees the return of key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Siraj. Young talents Auqib Nabi and Naman Dhir have also received their maiden ODI call-ups, indicating India's focus on assessing players ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Virat Kohli Meets Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on 'Goodwill Visit' in London.
India's ODI Squad vs West Indies:
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- KL Rahul (Vice-Captain)
- Dhruv Jurel
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Prasidh Krishna
- Gurnoor Brar
- Mohammed Siraj
- Auqib Nabi
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Naman Dhir
West Indies Prepared for Challenge
The West Indies, led by Shai Hope, are coming into this series with an eye on preparations for the 2027 World Cup Qualifier, having missed direct qualification. The team will be keen to make the series opener competitive against the home favourites. Cricket West Indies announced their squads on September 19, with John Campbell returning after a hamstring injury and Jewel Andrew replacing the injured Ackeem Auguste.
Both teams are expected to hold training sessions on Friday and Saturday, building up to what promises to be an exhilarating start to the white-ball series. Cricket enthusiasts in Thiruvananthapuram and across the globe are eagerly anticipating the clash between these two cricketing nations.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 23, 2026 07:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
