SportsPosted at: Sep 26 2026 1:08PM


Rohit-Kohli return poses selection puzzle for IND-WI ODI Series opener

From BD Narayankar
Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 26 (UNI) There is something reassuring about seeing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in India's ODI plans, but their return also brings a familiar selection puzzle: how do you accommodate proven performers without disturbing players who have already established their roles?
That question will acquire greater significance when India, led by Shubman Gill, take on the West Indies in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Greenfield International Stadium here on Sunday.
Gill is not merely another member of the batting order. He is the captain and has been opening the innings regularly. With Kohli expected at No. 3, any attempt to bring another opener into the XI could immediately create a domino effect in the batting order.
The probable Indian combination discussed ahead of the match comprises Rohit, Gill, Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar.
Then there is Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Jaiswal's presence in the squad naturally raises the question of whether he can be fitted into the XI. One option would be to leave out Gaikwad and have Rohit and Jaiswal open. But that would leave Gill with a decision about his own batting position.
Moving the captain down the order simply to accommodate another opener would be a significant tactical call, particularly when Gill has been scoring runs while opening.
That is where the selection debate becomes interesting. In international cricket, batting positions are not just numbers on a team sheet. They can become a player's comfort zone, his preparation routine and ultimately his identity within the side.
India will have to balance flexibility with stability as they begin building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The absence of Shreyas Iyer, who is involved in the Asian Games, opens a place in the middle order and could give Gaikwad an opportunity. KL Rahul adds further flexibility, while Nitish Kumar Reddy and Jadeja provide the all-round options in the absence of Hardik Pandya.
For the West Indies, Shai Hope will lead a side that includes John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales.
The visitors have enough variety to make India work for their runs. Hope brings experience to the top order, Rutherford provides power, while Joseph and Seales give the attack pace and bounce.
Historically, India have held the advantage in the ODI rivalry, winning 72 of the 142 matches between the teams. The West Indies have won 64, with four matches producing no result.
The Greenfield pitch is expected to be a surface where the spinners could have a say, although the new ball may also offer movement for the seamers. That could make the toss an interesting factor, particularly if the surface slows as the game progresses.
There is also the added attraction of personal milestones.
Kohli needs 59 runs to reach 15,000 ODI runs, while Rohit is 105 runs away from completing 12,000 runs in the format.
Milestones, however, are usually best treated as consequences rather than objectives. For both players, the bigger challenge will be to contribute to a team that is beginning another important phase in its ODI journey.
The series could also provide the selectors with valuable information about the combination they want to take forward. If India secure an early lead, the third ODI could offer scope for experimentation, including testing alternative opening combinations.
For Sunday, though, the equation is much simpler.
Gill has the captaincy, Rohit and Kohli have the experience, the younger players are waiting for their opportunities, and the West Indies arrive with the intention of making the home side earn every run.
For India, the challenge is not merely to win the opening ODI. It is to begin finding the right balance between what has worked in the past and what the team may need for the future.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Rohit-Kohli return poses selection puzzle for IND-WI ODI Series opener
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