India and West Indies meet at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, on Sunday, September 27, 2026, for the first of three ODIs. This is the opening match of India’s 2026-27 international home season, with the remaining two games scheduled in Guwahati on September 30 and New Chandigarh on October 3.

Shubman Gill leads India with KL Rahul as vice-captain, while Shai Hope captains West Indies. Both sides have World Cup-related goals riding on this series, with India assessing their squad depth ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup and West Indies working through their qualification preparations.

3. Shai Hope

Shai Hope is a right-handed batter who has played 154 ODIs, accumulating 6,312 runs at an average of 49.70 and a strike rate of 79.85. The 32-year-old also captains the West Indies side in this series.

Hope’s recent ODI form across 10 matches: 361 runs at an average of 51.57 and a strike rate of 95.5. His ability to bat deep into an innings creates space for West Indies’ power hitters to play freely, making him a central figure in how the visitors set or chase totals.

2. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma, now 39, plays only ODI cricket at the international level. He arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on September 24, 2026, ahead of the series opener.

Obviously, the spotlight is going to be on the former India captain. Reports emerged about his retirement after two low scores in India’s previous ODI series against England in July. However, he silenced his critics by slamming a phenomenal century at Lord’s in the third ODI. For someone who plays only one format in international cricket now, these games are going to be of great importance as the 39-year-old looks to stay in the groove heading into next year’s 50-over World Cup.

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is the third player to watch in this series opener. Like Rohit, Kohli has been absent from ODI cricket for more than two months and returns to action at Thiruvananthapuram. Kohli’s involvement in this series is significant given India’s broader 2027 ODI World Cup preparations. His ODI record and experience make him one of the most closely watched batters whenever he takes the field, and the home conditions at Greenfield International Stadium will provide an early indicator of his current form heading into the home season.

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He has been in sensational form this year, having amassed 384 runs in six ODI innings at an average of 64 and a strike rate of 106.66. He has already notched up three fifties and one century. As far as his ODI record against the West Indies is concerned, Kohli has scored 2,261 runs from 41 innings at an average of 66.50 and a strike rate of 96.95. His conversion rate is impeccable, as the former India captain has nine centuries and 11 fifties against the Caribbean side.

Eight teams competed in the Women’s cricket event at the 2026 Asian Games, held at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. India claimed gold by defeating Sri Lanka in the final by 147 runs on September 22, 2026, while Pakistan won bronze against Bangladesh by 31 runs on the same day.

Several batters stood out across the tournament with consistent and high-impact performances. Here is a look at the three leading run-scorers from the Women’s Asian Games 2026.

Top 3 run-getters in Women’s Asian Games 2026

3. Smriti Mandhana (India)

Smriti Mandhana was the third-highest run-scorer in the Women’s Asian Games 2026. She did not bat in the quarter-final against Japan, with her runs coming across the remaining matches of the tournament.

Mandhana’s contributions were vital in supporting India’s campaign alongside Shafali at the top of the order. Her performances helped India progress through the knockout stages and ultimately claim the gold medal at Korogi Sports Park. In two innings, she scored 116 runs at a strike rate of 181.25. Her knock of 79 off 45 balls in the final against Sri Lanka showcased her batting prowess when the stakes are at their highest.

2. Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)

Chamari Athapaththu was the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament, accumulating 175 runs across three innings. She struck at 162.04, providing Sri Lanka with a reliable top-order presence throughout.

Athapaththu began with 63 off 37 balls against Malaysia in the group stage. She then scored 83 not out off 50 balls against Pakistan in the semi-final, which was the highest score by a woman in the competition’s history before Shafali’s century later that day. In the final against India, Athapaththu scored 29 off 21 balls, finishing as Sri Lanka’s top scorer in that match.

1. Shafali Verma (India)

Shafali Verma was the standout batter of the tournament, finishing with 188 runs across three innings. She struck at 202.15, underlining her aggressive approach throughout the competition.

Against Japan in the quarter-final, Shafali scored 40 not out off 15 balls. She then produced a historic knock in the semi-final against Bangladesh, scoring 100 not out off 49 balls, hitting three fours and nine sixes at a strike rate of 204.08. That century made her the first woman to score a hundred in the Asian Games and was also her maiden T20I century. Her nine sixes in that innings were the most by an India batter in a women’s T20I innings, surpassing Harmanpreet Kaur’s eight against New Zealand in the 2018 T20 World Cup. In the final against Sri Lanka, Shafali contributed 48 off 29 balls. She also became the woman with the most sixes in a calendar year in 2026, hitting 35 in total.

Ajit Agarkar’s time as Chairman of India’s Senior Men’s Selection Committee appears to be drawing to a close. Appointed on July 4, 2023, he replaced Chetan Sharma and went on to pick squads for three major ICC events, including the ODI World Cup 2023, the T20 World Cup 2024, and the T20 World Cup 2026.

Reports suggest that a one-year extension for Agarkar is unlikely, with neither the chief selector nor BCCI officials moving forward with it. The September 16 selection meeting, where squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against the West Indies were announced, may have been his last. The BCCI’s Annual General Meeting is expected to decide the matter, after which office-bearers have been given authority to finalise the new appointment.

Here are 3 replacement options for Ajit Agarkar as India’s chief selector

3. Pragyan Ojha

Pragyan Ojha is widely regarded as a frontrunner for the top selection role. He is already a sitting member of the five-man committee headed by Agarkar, alongside Shiv Sundar Das, Ajay Ratra, and R.P. Singh. His familiarity with the current system and his working knowledge of the panel’s processes make him what many observers describe as the most straightforward option available to the BCCI.

Ojha represented India in 24 Tests, 18 ODIs, and 6 T20Is, claiming 113 wickets in Test cricket alone. His active presence on the existing selection panel means he already understands the demands of the role. He is also reported to have strong connections within the BCCI, which could smooth any transition if he were elevated to the chairman’s position.

2. VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman‘s name has been circulating in cricketing circles as a possible option to lead the selection committee. He currently heads the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and has stepped in to coach the India team on a stand-in basis on more than one occasion. However, sources note that he has not actively sought out larger administrative positions within the BCCI.

Whoever takes charge will inherit a selection panel that has already drawn scrutiny. The committee faced criticism for removing 2026 T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav from his captaincy and squad, and for leaving out Sanju Samson, the 2026 T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament, from the T20I series against Zimbabwe. The incoming chief selector will also have the significant responsibility of building India’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

1. Parthiv Patel

Parthiv Patel has been a prominent name in discussions around the chief selector role for some time. Reports from india dot com dated September 18 indicate he is set to take over as the West Zone selector and may also be considered for the chairman’s post. His background spans both playing and franchise cricket roles, having served as assistant coach of Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026.

Parthiv played 25 Tests, 38 ODIs, and 2 T20Is for India, accumulating 1,706 runs across formats along with 93 catches and 18 stumpings. His exposure to franchise environments and talent identification at the highest domestic level adds a different dimension to his profile compared to the other candidates being considered.