IND vs WI, 1st ODI 2026 Toss Report and Playing XIs: India Opt To Bowl, Naman Dhir Makes India Debut
In a breaking development for the 1st ODI of the 2026 series, India captain Shubman Gill won the toss against West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram and opted to bowl first. The match, starting at 2:00 PM IST on September 27, 2026, also marks the much-anticipated ODI debut of all-rounder Naman Dhir for India.
The much-anticipated white-ball series between India and West Indies kicked off today at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, with India’s stand-in captain Shubman Gill winning the toss and opting to bowl first in the first One-Day International. You can find India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard here. All eyes are on young all-rounder Naman Dhir, who is making his ODI debut for India, adding a fresh dynamic to the squad.
The toss was held at 1:30 PM IST, with the match scheduled to commence at 2:00 PM IST (09:30 AM BST, 04:30 AM EDT). The three-match ODI series is the curtain-raiser for the West Indies' tour of India, which also includes a five-match T20I series.
Playing XIs and Debutant Spotlight
India has handed a maiden ODI cap to Naman Dhir, the 26-year-old right-handed batsman and off-break bowler from Punjab. Dhir, who has impressed in domestic cricket and the IPL, will be looking to make a significant impact on the international stage. He joins a strong Indian lineup featuring the returning stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, alongside captain Shubman Gill.
India's Playing XI:
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
- Naman Dhir (debutant)
West Indies, led by wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope, will be eager to challenge the world's top-ranked ODI team on their home turf.
West Indies' Playing XI:
- Shai Hope (c & wk)
- John Campbell
- Keacy Carty
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Justin Greaves
- Amir Jangoo
- Roston Chase
- Matthew Forde
- Alzarri Joseph
- Jayden Seales
- Gudakesh Motie
Team Form and Head-to-Head
India enters this series as the world's No. 1 ranked ODI team, despite a recent 2-1 series defeat to England. Their recent form shows L L W W W in their last five ODIs. West Indies, currently ranked 10th, come into the series struggling, having lost four of their last five ODI series, including a 3-2 home defeat to New Zealand in July. The Caribbean side has not won a bilateral ODI series against India since 2006.
The historical head-to-head record in ODIs between these two nations stands at 142 matches played. India holds an edge with 72 victories compared to West Indies' 64, with two ties and four no-results. The last ODI series in 2023 saw India emerge victorious with a 2-1 win in the Caribbean.
Key Head-to-Head Stats (ODIs):
| Category | India | West Indies |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 142 | 142 |
| Matches Won | 72 | 64 |
| Tied | 2 | 2 |
| No Result | 4 | 4 |
| Most Runs (Player) | Virat Kohli (2261) | |
| Most Sixes (Player) | Rohit Sharma (35) |
With both teams looking to set the tone for the series, India's decision to bowl first promises an exciting contest under the Thiruvananthapuram lights. The debut of Naman Dhir adds an extra layer of intrigue as India looks to solidify its squad ahead of future international assignments.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2026 01:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
