India, West Indies begin ODI series Sunday in Thiruvananthapuram
India host West Indies in a three-match ODI series beginning Sunday at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The first ODI starts at 2 PM IST on September 27, with the toss at 1:30 PM. The Shubman Gill-led side includes Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, while Jasprit Bumrah is unavailable as he is on Asian Games duty in Nagoya, Japan. Five T20Is follow the ODIs. Star Sports Network will televise the match, with streaming on JioHotstar.
Source
IPL · read the original report ↗
Desk check · compared with the source
What the desk checked (5)
- The first ODI starts at 2 PM IST on Sunday, September 27, at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, with toss at 1:30 PM IST. — Figures and venue appear in the source; no external verification possible.
- India will play three ODIs followed by five T20Is against West Indies. — Stated in source without attribution to a governing body.
- Shubman Gill captains India; Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in the squad. — Consistent with the squad list given in the source.
- Jasprit Bumrah is unavailable as he is on Asian Games duty in Nagoya, Japan. — Stated in source with no source given; editor may wish to confirm.
- The match streams on JioHotsar app/website and is televised on Star Sports Network. — Appears in source; platform name spelling looks erroneous.
Analysts’ view opinion
The big talking point is the blend: Shubman Gill leading a new-look ODI side while Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain available — a balance of youthful captaincy and heavyweight experience that this series will test. With Jasprit Bumrah away on Asian Games duty in Nagoya, the pace burden shifts to Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, and opens a door for newer names such as Auqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar. For West Indies, Shai Hope doubles up as captain and keeper, while the Alzarri Joseph–Shamar Joseph–Jayden Seales pace group has the tools to ask early questions of India's top order.
- A side with Gill as captain and Rohit and Kohli as senior batters makes batting-order shape and dressing-room balance the storyline of the series.
- Bumrah's absence is a genuine gap in India's attack, but it hands Siraj and Prasidh Krishna a chance to lead the bowling group.
- Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja could be central to controlling the middle overs in Thiruvananthapuram conditions.
- With both KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel named as keeping options, India have an interesting selection call in the XI.
- Three ODIs followed by five T20Is makes this a long tour, so rotation and workload management may shape team choices.
What to watch — The team sheet at the 1:30 PM toss — specifically who replaces Bumrah's overs and how the Rohit–Gill–Kohli top order is arranged.
The story does not confirm playing XIs, pitch behaviour, weather or any player fitness details; this read rests only on the announced squads.
Deep dive
Research brief · 8 facts · 3 dates · exam-readyThe brief
Context
India host the West Indies for a three-match ODI series, with the opening game at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The side is led by Shubman Gill and features veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is unavailable because he is on Asian Games duty in Nagoya, Japan. The West Indies are captained by wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope. Five T20Is will follow the ODI leg.
Key facts
- India play a three-match ODI series against the West Indies, beginning Sunday at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.
- The first ODI starts at 2 PM IST on Sunday, September 27, with the toss at 1:30 PM IST.
- Shubman Gill captains India; Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are part of the squad.
- Jasprit Bumrah misses the series as he is on Asian Games duty in Nagoya, Japan.
- The three ODIs will be followed by five T20Is.
- The match is televised on Star Sports Network and streamed on the JioHotstar app and website.
- Shai Hope is the West Indies captain and wicketkeeper.
- India's 15-member squad includes KL Rahul as wicketkeeper, plus Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
Timeline
- September 24 (Thursday)Indian players, including Rohit Sharma, train at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, ahead of the first ODI.
- Sunday, September 27First ODI at Greenfield International Stadium; toss at 1:30 PM IST, play begins at 2 PM IST.
- After the ODIsFive T20Is between India and the West Indies follow the three-match ODI series.
Who has a stake
- Shubman Gill (India captain) — Leads the ODI side in a home series without Jasprit Bumrah, balancing senior batters with newer names.
- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — Named as the star attractions of the Indian squad for the ODI series.
- Jasprit Bumrah — Unavailable for the series due to Asian Games duty in Nagoya, Japan.
- West Indies team under Shai Hope — Touring side playing three ODIs and five T20Is in India.
- Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram — Hosts the first ODI, bringing international cricket to Kerala.
- Star Sports Network and JioHotstar — Hold the television and digital streaming rights for the match coverage.
Why it matters
A home ODI series lets India test a transitional squad in which Shubman Gill leads while Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain central to the batting. Bumrah's absence on Asian Games duty shows how a crowded calendar splits India's player pool across simultaneous events, opening slots for uncapped and fringe bowlers.
UPSC angle
Prelims pointers
- Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) hosts the first India vs West Indies ODI.
- First ODI: Sunday, September 27, 2 PM IST; toss at 1:30 PM IST.
- India ODI captain for the series: Shubman Gill; West Indies captain and wicketkeeper: Shai Hope.
- Series format: three ODIs followed by five T20Is.
- Jasprit Bumrah unavailable due to Asian Games duty in Nagoya, Japan.
- Broadcast on Star Sports Network; live streaming on JioHotstar app and website.
Mains framing
The India-West Indies limited-overs series illustrates how modern international cricket schedules overlap and stretch national talent pools: with Jasprit Bumrah away on Asian Games duty in Nagoya, India must field a bowling attack built around Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav and less-experienced names such as Auqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar, while Shubman Gill's captaincy alongside senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli signals a phase of leadership transition. The choice of Thiruvananthapuram's Greenfield International Stadium as venue reflects the spread of international fixtures beyond traditional metropolitan centres, with implications for regional sporting infrastructure and fan access. The packaging of three ODIs with five T20Is, delivered through Star Sports Network television and JioHotstar streaming, also underlines the commercial and broadcast logic that increasingly shapes tour design. The way forward, on the evidence available, lies in squad depth and rotation so that multi-event commitments do not compromise competitive standards.
Key terms
- ODI
- One Day International, a 50-overs-per-side limited-overs format of international cricket.
- T20I
- Twenty20 International, the 20-overs-per-side international format; five are scheduled after the ODIs.
- Greenfield International Stadium
- Cricket venue in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, hosting the first India-West Indies ODI.
- Asian Games
- Multi-sport continental event; being held in Nagoya, Japan, where Jasprit Bumrah is on national duty.
- JioHotstar
- Digital platform (app and website) streaming the India vs West Indies first ODI live.
Practice questions
- How do overlapping international and multi-sport commitments, such as cricket's inclusion in the Asian Games, affect national team selection and player workload management?
- Discuss the significance of hosting international cricket at venues outside metropolitan centres, with reference to the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Examine the role of broadcast and streaming rights in shaping the scheduling and format of bilateral cricket series.
Grounded only in the source report — figures and dates are the source's, not inferred.