Kohli, Gill turn chase into a procession as India crush West Indies by eight wickets

Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill produced commanding centuries as India made light work of a 296-run target to beat the West Indies by eight wickets in the first ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium on Sunday. Kohli remained unbeaten on 139 while captain Gill struck 110, their 150-run second-wicket partnership powering India to 300 for two in just 41.4 overs and giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The evening also brought another milestone for Kohli, who became only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to cross 15,000 runs in ODI cricket. His 55th ODI hundred and 86th international century eventually overshadowed Justin Greaves’ maiden ODI ton, while Kuldeep Yadav’s 4/40 proved decisive in preventing West Indies from turning a strong start into a much bigger total.

Kohli owns the chase

India began briskly as Gill and Rohit Sharma put on 75 for the opening wicket before Kohli joined his captain and took control of the chase. Gill had received an early reprieve on 11 when substitute fielder Keemo Paul dropped him off Jayden Seales, and the right-hander made West Indies pay heavily for the mistake.

Gill reached his half-century from 49 balls before accelerating, taking another 47 deliveries to move from 50 to his 10th ODI hundred. His innings combined precision with aggression as he repeatedly found the gaps through point and cover, while also taking on spinner Gudakesh Motie.

Kohli operated with the familiar template that has defined his ODI career — hard running between the wickets, calculated aggression and an ability to accelerate without allowing the required rate to become a concern. This time, however, there was an added appetite for clearing the boundary as he finished with nine sixes to go with 10 fours.

Alzarri Joseph bore the brunt of Kohli’s assault as the former India captain struck him for three successive fours before later launching him down the ground for six. Kohli brought up his half-century from 40 balls as India steadily stripped away whatever pressure remained in the chase.

Gill eventually departed for 110 when his slog-sweep off Roston Chase found Jewel Andrew in the deep. By then, however, West Indies had been pushed out of the contest and Kohli was closing in on another landmark.

Kohli reaches 55th ton

Kohli completed his century from only 74 balls in emphatic fashion, launching Motie over mid-wicket for six to move directly from 94 to 100. The Greenfield Stadium erupted as the 37-year-old celebrated another chapter in an ODI career already filled with batting records.

The hundred was Kohli’s 55th in ODIs and his 86th across international cricket. He also went past 15,000 ODI runs during the innings, joining Tendulkar as the only batters to reach the landmark.

Kohli remained unbeaten on 139 as India completed the chase with 50 balls remaining. What had initially appeared a competitive West Indies total was reduced to an inadequate one by the authority of India’s top order.

Kuldeep breaks Windies charge

Earlier, West Indies appeared set for a total well beyond 300 after Greaves and John Campbell produced a 135-run opening partnership in 19.2 overs. Campbell struck 62 from 60 balls while Greaves went on to make 101, giving the visitors an excellent platform before Kuldeep changed the direction of the innings.

Campbell had been particularly severe on Ravindra Jadeja, taking a four and two sixes from the spinner’s first over on his way to a 49-ball half-century. Kuldeep, however, ended the opening stand by varying his line and length before inducing a miscued sweep that Prasidh Krishna collected at mid-on.

The left-arm wrist-spinner then removed captain Shai Hope, who was deceived by the change of line and skied a catch to Jadeja near point. The bigger damage followed when Kuldeep dismissed Greaves and Jewel Andrew from successive deliveries.

Greaves was trapped leg-before while attempting a sweep, with the decision surviving a review. Andrew then failed to read Kuldeep’s googly and was dismissed first ball, leaving West Indies suddenly struggling at 198 for five after having been comfortably placed at 176 for one.

Jangoo lifts West Indies

Amir Jangoo ensured West Indies did not completely lose their way after Kuldeep’s burst. His unbeaten 58 provided the late momentum required to push the visitors to 295 for seven, as he added 48 for the sixth wicket with Chase and another 38 for the seventh with Matthew Forde.

Jangoo was particularly effective against the Indian pacers, using the pull shot to punish anything short. The left-hander completed his fifty from just 38 deliveries, reaching the landmark with a wristy six over the leg side.

His late resistance gave West Indies a competitive total, but the visitors needed substantially more once India’s top order settled into the chase. Gill laid the foundation, Kohli took complete control and the hosts crossed the line with enough time to underline the gulf between the two sides on the day.