Kohli Reaches 15,000 ODI Runs as India Beat West Indies by Eight Wickets

Virat Kohli became only the second man to score 15,000 runs in one-day internationals as India beat West Indies by eight wickets in the first match of the series at Thiruvananthapuram.

Kohli finished unbeaten on 139 from 88 balls, his 86th international century and his tenth in ODIs against West Indies. India reached their target of 296 inside 42 overs.

Kuldeep Turns the Match

West Indies had looked well placed at 176 for 1 after an opening stand of 135 between Justin Greaves and John Campbell.

Kuldeep Yadav changed that. Recalled after sitting out India's previous ODI series entirely and having struggled in a Test in Sri Lanka, the wrist spinner took four of the first five wickets to fall, triggering a collapse of 4 for 22. He finished with 4 for 40 and was named player of the match.

Greaves made 101 and Campbell 62, with Jangoo adding 58, but West Indies could reach only 295 for 7 from their 50 overs after a strong platform had promised more.

India had been without Jasprit Bumrah, who is in Japan representing the country at the Asian Games, and named a side in which Mohammed Siraj is still searching for his best rhythm.

Gill and Kohli Take Over

The chase was straightforward. Rohit Sharma made 32 before falling, and Shubman Gill then shared a stand with Kohli that effectively settled the match.

Gill made 110 from 108 balls in a return to the form that has characterised his white-ball cricket, and Kohli was more destructive still, reaching his hundred and continuing to a run-a-ball-plus 139 not out. Ruturaj Gaikwad finished alongside him on 13.

India completed the win with 50 deliveries unused, Roston Chase the only West Indies bowler to claim a wicket in the chase with 1 for 64.

Landmarks Along the Way

The milestones arrived in quick succession. Kohli passed 15,000 ODI runs, a mark only one other player has reached, and brought up an 86th century across all international formats.

He now has ten ODI hundreds against West Indies alone.

For West Indies the defeat follows a familiar pattern. A strong start counted for little once the spin came on, and 176 for 1 became a total well short of what the surface offered.

Kohli's innings also underlined how comfortable he remains in the format at a stage of his career when many contemporaries have moved on from it. He faced 88 balls for his 139, finishing unbeaten having barely offered a chance.

India lead the three-match series 1-0, with the second match at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday.