Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: India will begin a three-match ODI series against the West Indies on September 27, 2026. The first match will be played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The series is an important part of India's preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.The first ODI will start at 2:00 PM IST on Sunday. The second ODI will be played in Guwahati on September 30, while the third match will take place in New Chandigarh on October 3. All three matches are scheduled to start at 2:00 PM IST.Key HighlightsIndia will face West Indies in three ODIs.The first ODI will be played on September 27.The match will start at 2:00 PM IST.Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram will host the opener.The match will be telecast on the Star Sports network.Fans in India can watch the match live on JioHotstar.Shubman Gill will lead India in the ODI series.Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the ODI team.When Is India vs West Indies 1st ODI?The India vs West Indies first ODI will be played on Sunday, September 27, 2026.The match will begin at 2:00 PM IST. The toss will take place shortly before the start of the match.The game will be played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The stadium is hosting the opening match of the three-game ODI series.Where to Watch India vs West Indies 1st ODI?Indian cricket fans can watch the first ODI live on the Star Sports network on television.The match will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar in India. Fans can use the JioHotstar app and website to follow the match online from 2:00 PM onwards.The match is expected to attract strong attention as several well-known Indian players are part of the ODI squad.India Begin World Cup PreparationIndia's three-match series against West Indies comes with the 2027 ODI World Cup in sight.The next ODI World Cup is a little more than a year away. India will use the series to work on team combinations and give players more time in the 50-over format.The team has also seen changes because some regular players are involved in the Asian Games. This has created opportunities for other players to show their skills in the ODI format.Shubman Gill to Lead IndiaShubman Gill will captain India in the ODI series against West Indies.Gill has been an important part of India's ODI batting group. He will have a chance to lead the side as India starts its longer preparation for the 2027 World Cup.India's squad also includes experienced players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. Rohit and Kohli return to the ODI side after their previous series against England.The Indian squad also has players such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.West Indies Led by Shai HopeWest Indies will be led by Shai Hope.The West Indies squad includes experienced players such as John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase. Bowlers including Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie and Jayden Seales are also part of the squad.John Campbell has returned to the West Indies ODI squad for the India tour. The team also includes some younger players who will get an opportunity in the three-match series.Full ODI Series ScheduleThe three ODIs will be played across three different venues.1st ODI: September 27 — Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram — 2:00 PM IST2nd ODI: September 30 — Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati — 2:00 PM IST3rd ODI: October 3 — PCA International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh — 2:00 PM ISTThe ODI series will be followed by a five-match T20I series. The first T20I is scheduled for October 6 in Lucknow.Why This Series MattersThe India-West Indies ODI series gives both teams a chance to test their players in the 50-over format.For India, the main focus will be on building the team for the 2027 World Cup. With more than a year still available, the team can try different combinations and give players valuable match time.For West Indies, the series is also an opportunity to compete against India in Indian conditions and build confidence in the ODI format.The first match in Thiruvananthapuram will therefore open an important three-game contest. Cricket fans in India can watch the action live from 2:00 PM IST on September 27 on Star Sports and JioHotstar.
