Kuldeep Yadav's four-wicket spell powers India past West Indies in first ODI

Kuldeep Yadav’s 4 for 40 in Thiruvananthapuram shifted the first ODI decisively before Virat Kohli’s fireworks and Shubman Gill’s century celebration became the louder parts of India’s win over West Indies. Kuldeep strikes after West Indies’ fast start West Indies had reached 107 for no loss when Kuldeep was brought into the attack in the 16th over at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. India had already used three fast bowlers in their opening bursts, Ravindra Jadeja had gone for 26 runs in his first four overs, and debutant offspinner Naman Dhir had bowled two overs before Kuldeep entered the innings. The first signs of control came immediately, even though his first over did not bring a wicket. Kuldeep’s first ball to Justin Greaves was lobbed above the batter’s eyeline at 82.3kph, the next was a wrong’un in the mid-80kph range that found the leading edge, and the over ended with an 86kph fullish delivery that almost yorked Greaves. Cricinfo described that over as the point at which Kuldeep had “found his pulse”. His first wicket arrived eight balls later, when John Campbell top-edged a tossed-up delivery to short fine leg. That dismissal was the first break India needed after West Indies had scored at more than seven runs an over when Kuldeep struck in the 20th over. By the 30th over, West Indies’ scoring rate had dipped below six an over, while Kuldeep was conceding just over four an over. The slowdown mattered because West Indies were still only two wickets down after 33 overs on a placid surface and had a powerful middle order available. Cricinfo noted that India captain Shubman Gill could ill-afford complacency in that situation. Hope wicket changes the middle overs Gill went back to Kuldeep in the 33rd over in an attempt to remove West Indies’ main man, Shai Hope. Kuldeep delivered that wicket when Hope charged down the pitch in a bid to raise the scoring rate. Hope had anticipated the angle coming into him and attempted a cross-batted hoick, but Kuldeep pushed the ball up at 84kph and did not allow him to reach the pitch of the ball. The top-edge flew over backward point, where Ravindra Jadeja completed the catch. That dismissal reinforced the pattern of Kuldeep using pace, flight and angle to disturb West Indies’ plans rather than relying on assistance from the pitch. Cricinfo said the bowlers were not getting much purchase from the surface, which increased India’s need for Kuldeep’s left-arm wristspin. The Telegraph also described rhythm as a major part of Kuldeep’s bowling, noting that this has been seen across formats in the past. The 36th over that hurt West Indies The most damaging passage came in Kuldeep’s next over, when he dismissed Greaves and Jewel Andrew off successive deliveries. The Telegraph identified the 36th over bowled by Kuldeep as key to India’s win over West Indies. Greaves had made a century before Kuldeep dismissed him. Andrew followed immediately, and West Indies slid from 194 for 2 to 198 for 5. The Telegraph said those back-to-back wickets put a severe dent in West Indies’ prospects of posting a total close to 330 or more. Instead, the visitors were restricted to 295/7. The Telegraph described 295/7 as a touch below-par total in conditions that became easier for batting under lights. Kuldeep finished with 4 for 40 and was, according to Cricinfo, comfortably the best bowler across the two teams. Before Kohli’s batting and Gill’s compact innings, the Telegraph said Kuldeep’s spell had already shaped the result. Cricinfo also placed Kuldeep’s spell before the later noise around Kohli and Gill, saying he was the player who bailed India out before Kohli sent the crowd into a frenzy and before Gill celebrated a tenth ODI hundred with his signature bow. “Personally I liked my rhythm” Kuldeep’s own explanation after the match centred on rhythm, calmness and variation. “Personally I liked my rhythm,” Kuldeep said after the game on the broadcast. “I was very calm in my rhythm and [was] just trying to bowl whatever I felt like bowling,” he said. “Just varying the pace, [and my] variations were superb, just reading the batters, where they are going to hit me,” he added. He said he found himself in “very good rhythm”. “And I believe the rhythm, it's all about your flow, bowling flow,” Kuldeep said. “When you are comfortable and when you are in good flow, then everything looks so good,” he said. “There’s still a chance to improve and, yeah, I’m going to stick with the same rhythm,” he said. “That’s the most important thing,” he added. “Any format I play, it’s just you feeling comfortable in your rhythm and in your flow,” Kuldeep said. The Telegraph carried the same broad post-match explanation from Kuldeep, with the left-arm wrist-spinner elaborating that his rhythm was about “flow” and about feeling comfortable in any format. Why this spell stood out Cricinfo described Kuldeep as an “out-and-out rhythm bowler” and said that pattern has been established many times across his nine-year international career. When Kuldeep is at his best, Cricinfo said, his action flows through the jump, the delivery stride, the way he uses his wrists to power the ball through, and the way he can lob the ball above a batter’s eyeline to set him up. Cricinfo also noted that in many of his top ODI spells, when he has found rhythm early in an innings, he has dominated opponents. The Thiruvananthapuram ODI was one such day, with Kuldeep finding his groove almost from the start of his spell. The match-up also carried a favourable record for him before this game, because he had taken 33 wickets in 18 innings against West Indies at an economy rate of 4.72. There was also wider context to India’s decision to use him in that phase, because since the start of 2025, among Full Members, West Indies had the poorest average and the third-poorest economy against spin in ODIs. Even with that background, the surface did not offer much assistance to the bowlers, so the effectiveness of Kuldeep’s wristspin came through his control and changes of pace. His sequence across the innings showed why India needed those skills: he slowed the scoring after a 107-run opening stand, removed Campbell, returned to take out Hope, and then broke the innings further by removing Greaves and Andrew off consecutive balls. A celebration that showed what it meant Kuldeep’s reactions also stood out because he is usually not known for over-the-top celebrations. At Greenfield International Stadium, Cricinfo wrote that he jumped with childlike enthusiasm and threw his arms around Shubman Gill when the big screen flashed “OUT”. That moment came after Kuldeep had taken almost the full 15 seconds to first convince KL Rahul and then Gill to send the lbw decision against Justin Greaves upstairs. When the decision went in his favour, he held Gill in a bear hug and smiled from ear to ear. Cricinfo noted that, in the opening ODI against West Indies, something seemed to be bubbling over in Kuldeep’s celebrations. With each wicket, the fist pumps had more force, the arms flew in celebration and the grin grew wider. Those scenes added a visible layer to a spell that Kuldeep himself later tied to enjoyment, relaxation and confidence. “It always feels nice when you enjoy your bowling. And that's where you achieve your best,” Kuldeep said. “When you are enjoying your bowling, when you are a bit relaxed as well, then your performance peaks,” he said. “So sometimes to get that confidence back, you have to have a bowling spell like this,” he added. “And it definitely grows your confidence,” Kuldeep said. The Telegraph also quoted him saying that enjoying bowling helps him stay relaxed and that performance peaks in that space. A timely spell after a difficult run Cricinfo said it has been a rough year for Kuldeep. Out of the ten ODIs, including the Thiruvananthapuram match, and 28 T20Is India have played in 2026, Kuldeep has featured in only five ODIs and four T20Is. He travelled with India across England for five T20Is and three ODIs but did not get a match, even though India lost both series. He played the first Test against Sri Lanka, was dropped for the second, and was not part of the T20I squads against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. The Telegraph also noted that sitting on the bench despite being in the India squad is not new for Kuldeep. It said that even in the recent two-Test series against Sri Lanka, Kuldeep played just one match. Cricinfo raised the question of whether Kuldeep would have been picked against West Indies if Axar Patel and Washington Sundar had not been at the Asian Games. That selection context sits alongside his ODI record, because since his ODI debut in 2017 no spinner has taken more wickets in the format than Kuldeep’s 198. His ODI average of 26.7 and economy rate of 5.06 were also highlighted by Cricinfo as figures that can put some of the best bowlers going around in the shade. Despite those numbers, Cricinfo said the “Kuldeep question” continues to keep the jury divided. County stint and renewed enjoyment The Telegraph added another part of Kuldeep’s recent build-up, saying a short stint with Yorkshire in county cricket gave him the chance to express himself and enjoy his bowling. That stint helped him finish with match figures of 10/120 against Essex at Leeds earlier this month. Kuldeep’s comments after the West Indies game linked that idea of enjoyment directly to performance. “When you enjoy your bowling, that’s when you achieve your best,” Kuldeep said, according to The Telegraph. He also said that enjoying his bowling helps him be a bit relaxed, and that his performance peaks then. The connection between that county rhythm and his ODI spell is presented by The Telegraph through the same theme of expression, enjoyment and flow. Prasidh points to clarity in the dressing room India pacer Prasidh Krishna also spoke about the environment in the team, saying clarity in the dressing room has helped him. The Telegraph described Prasidh as India’s highest wicket-taker in the ODI format at present, with 15 wickets from eight matches. “When you come in knowing what exactly has to be done, there is clarity within the team and in me as to what I do when I come in,” Prasidh said. “So, the clarity and the communication accumulate and help me bowl well,” he added. His comments placed Kuldeep’s spell within a broader bowling unit that The Telegraph said has benefited from clarity and communication. Kohli and Gill headline, Kuldeep reminder remains Kohli’s 15,000 ODI runs and Gill’s century were likely to dominate attention from the first ODI, according to Cricinfo. Cricinfo’s match coverage noted Kohli as the fastest to 15,000 ODI runs and said Gill brought out his signature bow to celebrate a tenth ODI hundred. Gill’s innings and Kohli’s batting came after Kuldeep had created the opening India needed with the ball. Cricinfo wrote that Kuldeep’s performance served as another timely reminder, with the World Cup just a year away, that he is still “right there”. For a bowler whose place has recently been uncertain despite his ODI record, the spell against West Indies carried significance beyond the figures of 4 for 40. It showed India the value of a wrist-spinner who can change pace, read batters, bring down the scoring rate, and take wickets in clusters on a surface where bowlers were not getting much purchase. The sequence began with John Campbell’s top-edge and grew into the wickets of Shai Hope, Justin Greaves and Jewel Andrew, giving India the decisive control that shaped West Indies’ 295/7. That is why, even on a day expected to be remembered for Kohli and Gill, Kuldeep’s rhythm was central to India’s first ODI win in Thiruvananthapuram.

Latest update

At Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, India won the toss and chose to field first in the second ODI against West Indies, with Shubman Gill leading India and Shai Hope captaining West Indies as wicketkeeper-captain.

West Indies moved towards a massive total after a fast start and sustained pressure from their top order. Shai Hope was eventually dismissed for 104, giving India a much-needed breakthrough, while Amir Jangoo was closing in on becoming the third West Indies batter in the innings to score a hundred.

Before Hope’s dismissal, the visitors were in control as Jangoo and Hope continued to frustrate the Indian bowlers and scored at a very fast pace. India needed quick wickets in the next few overs to slow down West Indies’ charge.

John Campbell had earlier set the tone with a magnificent 65-ball century, hitting nine boundaries and five towering sixes. Gurnoor Brar gave India a crucial breakthrough on the first ball of the 19th over when Campbell mistimed a stroke to Naman Dhir, leaving West Indies at 147/2. Amir Jangoo then got going immediately with a boundary after joining Hope, who was batting on 31*, as West Indies went past 150.

Campbell’s innings had begun with a furious assault on India’s pace attack. He reached a 29-ball half-century, an innings that included seven boundaries and two maximums, pushing the run rate near double digits.

India’s first breakthrough had come in the fifth over. After an expensive start from Auqib Nabi, Prasidh Krishna struck on the final delivery of the 5th over, getting Keacy Carty, who made 9, caught by Naman Dhir at 37/1.

India’s frontline seamers struggled for control in the mandatory fielding restrictions. West Indies scored 96 runs in that phase, with Campbell unbeaten on 69 off 39 balls at the end of it.

The match is the second ODI of the series, being played on September 30 at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. India came into the game fresh from a commanding win in Thiruvananthapuram and had the chance to wrap up the three-match series before the final match.

In the series opener, India chased down a target of 296 with 50 balls remaining. Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 139 in that chase, while Gill also scored a hundred of his own.

India were expected to retain the combination that worked in the first match, especially after both Kohli and Gill reached three figures during the chase. Rohit Sharma, who was dismissed cheaply in the opener, was looking to convert a start into a substantial score in Guwahati. He was also involved in a minor scare after slipping on the steps of the team bus following the win, though no further concern has been reported.

The West Indies Playing XI for the match is John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope(w/c), Amir Jangoo, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales and Vitel Lawes.

India’s Playing XI is Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul(w), Naman Dhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna.

The listed umpires and match officials are Virender Sharma and Sharfuddoula as on-field umpires, Sam Nogajski as third umpire, Jayaraman Madanagopal as fourth umpire and Prakash Bhatt as match referee.

The live telecast details listed for the match are Star Sports Network and JioHotstar in India, ESPN Caribbean and ESPN Caribbean digital platforms in West Indies, and Tapmad in Pakistan.

The live coverage also pointed readers to ball-by-ball updates of the match, the latest live scorecard as the match unfolds, and key text commentary updates from the action. It also listed the latest win probability for the match and a Manhattan graphic for match momentum.

The coverage referenced related items on Kohli revealing what he sees in Gill that can make him a long-term India captain, Virat Kohli’s splendid record at Guwahati and how the Indian legend has performed across formats in Assam, chances of rain in Guwahati on Wednesday for IND vs WI 2nd ODI, and Rohit speaking about his relationship with Virat and 2027 WC plans under the quote, “We’re different individuals”.

The venues also listed in the wider coverage are Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, and Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, New Chandigarh.

The live scorecard, toss winner, winning probability, result and highlights from Guwahati originally appeared on Cricket News, which also directed readers to its Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages for the latest cricket news, opinion and commentary, and to share their voice.