India began their three-match series against West Indies in style. They won the first one-day international by eight wickets in Guwahati on Sunday. It was the standout Kohli century India vs West Indies fans will remember, with Virat Kohli finishing unbeaten on 139. Shubman Gill built the platform first, striking an excellent 110. West Indies had earlier posted 295-7, built on Justin Greaves’ century and John Campbell’s brisk fifty. Kuldeep Yadav’s spin kept the total from climbing further out of reach.
West Indies Set 296 Target Behind Greaves Ton and Kuldeep Spell
West Indies were sent in first and made 295-7 from their fifty overs. John Campbell gave the innings early momentum, striking 62 off 60 balls to lift the run rate from the very start.
Justin Greaves then took charge through the middle overs, constructing an innings of real substance. He finished 101 off 108 deliveries, finding the boundary often enough to push West Indies towards a total that looked competitive on paper.
Campbell and Greaves were responsible for most of West Indies’ runs. Support from the rest of the order was thin, and once Kuldeep Yadav found his rhythm, partnerships proved hard to build.
India’s bowlers had to work hard for their rewards. Kuldeep was the standout, claiming 4-40 with clever variations in turn and pace to unsettle the middle order. His spell left India needing 296 to win, a stiff target that always looked within range for this batting line-up.
Gill and Kohli Lead Dominant Indian Response in Guwahati Opener
Shubman Gill set the tone from the first over. He batted with control, found gaps square of the wicket, and raced to fifty inside the powerplay. The required rate never troubled him, whether he drove through the covers or went over the top against anything short.
Virat Kohli joined him and settled quickly, rotating the strike while Gill did much of the early scoring. Together they built a partnership that kept India comfortably ahead of the rate needed to chase down 296.
Gill eventually fell for 110 off 108 balls, having done the bulk of the work to put India in command. By that stage the result already looked a formality. India completed the chase in 41.4 overs, a clear reflection of the gap between the two sides.
There was little alarm at any stage of the innings. West Indies’ bowlers rarely built sustained pressure, and India’s batting depth meant neither batter needed to take risks.
Kohli Hits Unbeaten 139 to Seal Eight-Wicket Win and Hit 15,000 Runs
Kohli accelerated through the closing overs in devastating fashion. He finished unbeaten on 139 from just 88 balls, an innings built on placement early and outright power later. Ten fours and nine sixes flew off his bat as India cruised to the target with overs to spare.
This was a Kohli century India vs West Indies followers will not forget, and it carried real historical weight. It took Kohli’s career tally past 15,000 ODI runs, a mark only Sachin Tendulkar had reached before him, as the Sky Sports report on India’s victory confirmed. Remarkably, Kohli reached the landmark in just 303 innings, well inside Tendulkar’s 377, making him the fastest man to the mark even though he remains second on the all-time list.
The knock extended Kohli’s ongoing elite run output in coloured clothing. The fluency he showed alongside a rising talent like Gill also speaks to Kohli’s influential mentorship role within this India side. Younger batters have previously pointed to batting advice from the former India captain as central to their own development.
Reflecting afterwards, Kohli played down the individual milestone in favour of the team’s win. “My focus has never been on milestones. Just looking back at the start of my journey, it makes me feel very grateful,” Kohli said. “I enjoy each and every minute that I am out there playing for India, and I am able to do the job for my team. As a cricketer, this is all I could dream of.”
The win gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Guwahati and Chandigarh will stage the remaining two ODIs before a five-match T20 series begins on 6 October. West Indies will need a sharper response with both bat and ball if they are to level the series.
India Player Ratings: Kohli and Kuldeep Excel in Series Opener
Here is how India’s key contributors rated in the series opener.
Shubman Gill (9/10): Gill set the tone at the top of the order, striking a fluent 110 off 108 balls that gave India control from the first over. His innings built the platform Kohli capitalised on, and his opening record keeps growing.
Virat Kohli (10/10): Kohli finished unbeaten on 139 off just 88 balls, striking ten fours and nine sixes to complete the chase in style. The innings also confirmed his place among the format’s greatest run-scorers.
Kuldeep Yadav (8/10): Kuldeep was the pick of India’s bowlers, taking 4-40 with his left-arm wrist spin. He found consistent turn through the middle overs, breaking partnerships at key moments and denying West Indies any late momentum.
The rest of India’s batting barely got the chance to make an impact, with Gill and Kohli doing most of the scoring. Support around Kuldeep from the other bowlers was steady rather than spectacular, but it mattered little given the platform West Indies were denied. India head into the second ODI full of confidence.
West Indies Player Ratings: Greaves Century in Vain After Chase Collapse
West Indies’ innings depended heavily on two contributors, and their ratings reflect a batting effort that promised more than it delivered.
John Campbell (7/10): Campbell gave West Indies quick early momentum, striking 62 off 60 balls at the top of the order. His innings helped set up the platform Greaves later built on, though the total was not enough to defend.
Justin Greaves (8/10): Greaves was the standout performer with the bat, reaching 101 off 108 balls to anchor the middle order. His century gave West Indies a competitive total, though it ultimately counted for little against Kohli’s response.
West Indies’ bowling attack never found a consistent answer once Kohli and Gill settled in. A target of 296 proved comfortably short against opponents playing with this level of control. The tourists will need a response with both bat and ball if they are to level the series.
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