Kohli Hits 55th ODI Century, Crosses 15,000 Runs as India Crush West Indies in First ODI

Virat Kohli turned the opening game of India's home ODI series against West Indies into a personal milestone night on Sunday. The 37-year-old struck an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls, his 55th one-day international century, and finished the chase with a six as India won by eight wickets at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. India reached 300/2 in 41.4 overs, with 50 balls to spare, and now lead the three-match series 1-0.

A 15,000-run landmark

Before reaching three figures, Kohli went past 15,000 ODI runs, becoming only the second batter in the format's history to get there after Sachin Tendulkar. He reached the mark in his 303rd innings; Tendulkar needed 377. Kohli's tally of ODI hundreds already sits well clear of Tendulkar's 49, with Rohit Sharma third on the list.

He got to his century off just 74 balls, one of the quickest of his career, and brought it up with a six to a sold-out home crowd. His innings included nine sixes in total.

Gill's captain's knock

Skipper Shubman Gill played the anchor role. After surviving a dropped chance early, he added 74 for the first wicket with Rohit Sharma, who made a brisk 32 before Alzarri Joseph removed him in the 12th over. Gill and Kohli then put on 151 for the second wicket off just 132 balls, effectively ending the contest. Gill made 110 off 108 balls, his 10th ODI hundred, before Roston Chase dismissed him. Ruturaj Gaikwad finished unbeaten on 13.

Kuldeep drags West Indies back

The win looked far less certain at the halfway stage. Put in to bat, West Indies raced to 135 without loss in under 20 overs as openers Justin Greaves and John Campbell attacked India's seamers. Campbell made 62 before Kuldeep Yadav, back in the ODI side, broke the stand.

Greaves went on to a maiden ODI hundred (101), but Kuldeep removed him and Jewel Andrew off consecutive deliveries to swing the middle overs India's way. A late 52-run stand between Chase and Amir Jangoo, who finished unbeaten on 58 off 43 balls, lifted the visitors to 295/7. Kuldeep ended with 4/40 and was named Player of the Match, while Prasidh Krishna took two wickets and Nitish Kumar Reddy one.

Why the series matters

The three games are part of India's build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Kohli and Rohit now play only the 50-over format after retiring from Tests and T20Is, and Kohli said on the eve of the match that the 2027 tournament would be his final World Cup. Both teams came into this series off recent ODI series defeats, which added some pressure to the opener.

For India, the positives were clear: a strong top order and a wrist spinner who changed the game. The concern will be the 135-run opening stand conceded with the new ball, something the seamers will want to fix before the second ODI in Guwahati on Wednesday, September 30. The series ends in New Chandigarh on October 3.

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