IND vs WI 1st ODI Results

4:46 PM IST Let's hear from the man of the moment - Virat Kohli, on reaching 15,000 ODI runs and becoming the fastest to the milestone, opens by thanking everyone for the kind words, but is quick to add that milestones have never really occupied his mind. He explains that his job has simply been to read the situation and do what the team needs, with any personal numbers arriving as a byproduct rather than a target. He calls himself grateful and blessed to have played this long, and says the plan remains unchanged, keeping the head down, putting in the work, and thanking whatever has made this journey possible. He reflects on how fortunate this life is, pointing out that so many people would give anything to be in this position, which is precisely why the only response is to work hard every single day. On what allows him to keep performing so consistently, he credits a deep understanding of the game first, followed closely by physical fitness, reasoning that cricket at his stage is played mostly in the mind. He admits practice has never been his thing, even across three formats, and says the real work lies in staying mentally fresh and present, letting himself express his batting naturally. He speaks of a personal challenge at this point in his career, pushing himself to play with an extra gear, and says unlocking a new version of his game excites him, whether it benefits India or his franchise side. He credits this freedom of mind for his current form, but stresses that a free mind depends entirely on a fit body, since staying physically sharp is what lets him visualise an innings and then go out and execute it exactly as planned. On his headspace at this stage of life and career, he says gratitude and happiness sum it up best. He believes looking back at where the journey began is something players often forget once fame, attention and love from fans take over, but revisiting that starting point as a child keeps him grounded. He says he savours every moment of playing for India, aware that things could easily have gone the other way and he might never have worn the jersey at all. Getting to represent his country in front of massive crowds, he says, is everything he ever dreamt of as a cricketer, and that leaves him with nothing but gratitude, a desire to keep working hard, and hopefully a smile that spreads to others too. When asked for a message to young players about remembering why they started and preserving their love for the game, he calls it an uncomfortable truth that athletes rarely confront, that everything could end after any given match, yet the responsibility to play the way you want remains constant. He says reminding yourself of that every time you take the field unlocks a positive, risk-taking mindset, the kind that wins matches. His advice to youngsters is simple: leave everything outside the boundary rope behind once you step onto the ground, put the body on the line, and if the situation demands running four twos in an over even at the 150th delivery, there is no excuse not to. On whether playing fewer formats has sharpened his clarity and calmed his nerves when opportunities arise, he agrees clarity is exactly the word. With a year still to go before the World Cup, he says his goals are clear, working on different facets of his game, staying fit, challenging himself physically, sprinting the boundaries in the closing overs, and bringing intensity into the field. He says ticking those boxes consistently is what matters, and with time still left in this format, he wants to enjoy every single day rather than approach chances with anxiety. He reiterates a personal promise to keep playing positively, but draws a clear line against recklessness, trusting his experience to walk that tightrope without letting the team down. On his partnership with Shubman Gill and what makes it click, along with Gill's growth into the captaincy, Kohli says there is a clear reason the young man leads the side, crediting his perspective on how to steer the team through different match situations. He says building a partnership with someone who already knows what needs doing comes naturally, and with a batter of Gill's calibre, sitting among the very best in the world, there is little left to say beyond the odd tactical word here and there. Says it becomes simply about stringing partnerships together and honouring the talent within the group, and in the field, whenever Gill needs support, Kohli says he is always ready to provide it.

4:44 PM IST Over and out - That's all from a night Thiruvananthapuram won't forget in a hurry. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli both brought up centuries, and Kuldeep Yadav shone with a four-fer. West Indies had their moments, with Justin Greaves' maiden ODI ton among them, but they will need a far more complete performance across all three departments if they are to level things up. The two sides will meet again at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati for the 2nd ODI on Wednesday, 30th September. The first ball will be bowled at 8.30 am GMT (2 pm IST), but as always, you can join us early for the buildup. Until then, take care and goodbye!

4:41 PM IST PLAYER OF THE MATCH - For figures of 4 for 40 in his 10 overs, Kuldeep Yadav has been given the award. He admits it felt a little awkward to receive the award after Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill's performances. On his bowling, Kuldeep says he enjoyed his rhythm and felt calm throughout his spell. Mentions that he focused on varying his pace, reading the batters well and trusting his instincts. Adds that when you enjoy your bowling, that is when you tend to produce your best performances. Kuldeep says a spell like this can go a long way in regaining his confidence. Yadav believes that there is still room for improvement, and his focus is to stick to the same rhythm irrespective of the format. When asked by Harsha Bhogle how his football team (FC Barcelona) is doing, Kuldeep reveals his love for the sport and says he has followed football from a young age. He is enjoying Barcelona's current run, with the club sitting top of the league standings, and has particularly liked the style of football they have been playing.

4:35 PM IST The victorious Indian skipper - Shubman Gill says that he should have finished the game, but he is quick to add that he is happy and satisfied with the way he played. When he is asked about the three fours he struck in a row off Alzarri Joseph's over and which one he personally enjoyed the most, he singles out the front foot drive through covers as his favourite of the three. On Kuldeep Yadav, he says a bowler of his quality is a wicket-taker whenever he has the ball in hand. Gill also credits him with dragging India back into a game they were on the back foot in, picking up crucial wickets at just the right time. On Virat Kohli's batting, Gill says he is in superb touch and looks like he is enjoying the game far more these days, playing with a real sense of freedom. He points out that Kohli has always had the ability to clear the ropes whenever he chooses, and given how many matches he has already won for the country, Gill feels he has more than earned the right to bat however he pleases. On the makeup of the batting order, Gill notes that India would ideally want an eighth batting option capable of chipping in with around 25 runs when called upon, and adds that the team remains open to experimenting with different combinations to find the right balance.

4:31 PM IST The captain of West Indies - Shai Hope feels they were 60-80 runs short and says they needed to make better use of the platform they had after the strong start from the openers. He praises the opening pair but feels they got stuck during the middle phase, making things difficult for themselves at the back end. Hope mentions that when you have 295 to defend, you need everything to go right, and a couple of chances going down certainly did not help their cause. He adds that irrespective of the total, you always have to believe you can defend it. Shares that they will take the learnings from this game and find ways to get better as a team.

4:25 PM IST Time for the presentation ceremony...