Quick Answer: India’s road to the 2027 ODI World Cup has begun on paper. On September 16, 2026, the BCCI named the 15-man squad for the West Indies series. The three-match ODI leg starts September 27. The squad tells a bigger story than a simple team sheet. There’s steady leadership at the top. There’s a big recall for two senior players. And there are two new names getting their first shot.
Here is a full breakdown of the squad, the story behind it, and everything you need to know about the series.
- Shubman Gill continues as India’s ODI captain, cementing his role as the man leading the side toward the 2027 World Cup.
- Rohit Sharma earns a recall at 39 after a match-winning 138 at Lord’s, his first ODI century at that ground.
- Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad return to the ODI fold after extended absences from the format.
- Auqib Nabi and Naman Dhir receive their maiden ODI call-ups, signalling a longer-term selection outlook.
- The three-match ODI series opens India’s tour on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, ahead of a separate five-match T20I leg led by Shreyas Iyer.
India’s ODI Squad vs West Indies, in Full
Shubman Gill stays on as captain. His squad reads:
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Naman Dhir.
The board named a separate 15-man T20I squad at the same time, led by Shreyas Iyer. That’s because the tour covers two formats: three ODIs and five T20Is. Eight matches in total, spread across three weeks.
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Why This Squad Matters: Building Toward 2027
Gill staying on as captain sends a clear signal. He got the job in October 2025. Now he’s the man steering India toward the 2027 World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. From here on, every squad choice gets judged by one question: does this fit the World Cup plan? This one is no different.
That’s what makes Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja’s recalls so interesting.
Rohit Sharma’s Recall: A Lord’s Century Changed the Conversation
Few recalls this year have drawn as much attention as Rohit Sharma’s. He’s 39. His future in ODIs has been debated ever since Gill took over the captaincy last October. That happened just months after Sharma led India to the Champions Trophy title in March 2025. During the England tour in July, reports even suggested selectors were ready to move on from him. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia shut that talk down. He said Sharma was still part of India’s ODI plans.
Then one innings changed everything. Chasing 388 in the series decider against England, Sharma smashed 138 off 110 balls. He hit 17 fours and five sixes. That made him the first Indian batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s. He finished that series with 175 runs in three innings, at an average of 58.33. Earlier in the year, he’d scored 16, 48, and 79 against Afghanistan too. Add it up for 2026, and Sharma has 379 runs in nine ODI innings. His average sits over 42, with a strike rate above 99. That form, plus his own stated goal of playing the 2027 World Cup, seems to have swung the selectors’ decision.
Whether this recall turns into a settled opening spot or stays a short-term call will come down to how he bats in these three games against a West Indies attack that should give him room to score freely.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad: Two Different Kinds of Return
Ravindra Jadeja’s recall stands out because of how long he’s been away from ODIs. His last appearance in the format came against New Zealand back in January. His all-round skills have long steadied India’s middle overs, especially his lower-order hitting and left-arm spin. Bringing him back suggests the team wants that option ready again as the World Cup cycle builds up.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s story is a bit different. He last played ODIs for India in the home series against South Africa the year before. His recall shows the selectors still trust his top-order batting, especially with India rotating players through a packed calendar.
Two Uncapped Names: Auqib Nabi and Naman Dhir
The squad also gives two players their first-ever ODI call-up. Both point to where the selectors are looking next, not just where the team stands today.
Pacer Auqib Nabi gets his maiden ODI selection. He was part of India’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour in August but didn’t debut there. Now he gets a real chance to break into the format at the top level.
Batter Naman Dhir also earns his first call-up to the senior Indian team. It’s a reward for strong performances at the domestic and franchise level, which had already put him on the selectors’ radar.
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A Ripple Effect: Changes to the Asian Games Squad
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s inclusion in the ODI squad has a knock-on effect. He was originally named in India’s Asian Games squad too. Now he’s been pulled out of the Games so he can play against West Indies instead. Vipraj Nigam steps in as his replacement for the Games. Separately, spinner Varun Chakaravarthy will also miss the Asian Games. That’s due to a side strain, not a selection trade-off.
These changes show how busy India’s calendar has become. Bilateral series, multi-format tours, and continental events are all running close together now. A squad decision in one event often shapes selection in another.
Full Series Schedule: India vs West Indies, 2026
The white-ball tour runs three weeks and covers eight matches across the country.
ODI Series
- 1st ODI — September 27, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
- 2nd ODI — September 30, ACA Stadium, Guwahati
- 3rd ODI — October 3, New Chandigarh
T20I Series
- 1st T20I — October 6, Lucknow
- 2nd T20I — October 9, Ranchi
- 3rd T20I — October 11, Indore
- 4th T20I — October 14, Hyderabad
- 5th T20I — October 17, Bengaluru
The ODIs come first. So the players named above will be the first to face the tourists, before India switches gears to the T20I squad led by Shreyas Iyer for the rest of the series.
Where West Indies Stand Coming In
India’s ODI squad is locked in. But the tourists arrive at an interesting point of their own. West Indies have spent 2026 rebuilding their 50-over side under captain Shai Hope. They’re chasing automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup. That path is open only to the top-ranked teams outside co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe. Their home form has actually been solid this year, with several series wins in a row. Away from the Caribbean, though, results have been tougher. That mix sets up a real contest on Indian soil, not just a routine formality, even with India holding the stronger squad on paper.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is captaining India’s ODI squad against West Indies?
Shubman Gill continues as ODI captain, a role he’s held since October 2025, as India builds toward the 2027 World Cup.
Is Rohit Sharma part of India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series?
Yes. He’s back after scoring 138 against England at Lord’s, his first ODI century there, which strengthened his case for a spot in India’s 50-over plans at age 39.
Who are the new players in India’s ODI squad?
Auqib Nabi and Naman Dhir both get their first ODI call-up in this squad.
When does the India vs West Indies ODI series start?
The three-match ODI series starts September 27, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram, followed by matches in Guwahati and New Chandigarh.
Is the T20I squad the same as the ODI squad?
No. India named two separate squads. Shreyas Iyer leads the T20I side, which includes a different core group, such as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma, for the five-match T20I series starting October 6.
The Bigger Picture
A squad announcement like this rarely feels dramatic on its own. But this one works as a useful checkpoint, roughly a year out from the next World Cup. Gill’s captaincy looks settled. Rohit Sharma has answered the biggest question about his career with his bat, not with words. Two new players now have a foot in the door. And a home series against a rebuilding West Indies side gives India exactly the kind of low-pressure test it needs. The real pressure comes later.
Sources & References
- ICC Cricket — India Name Squads for White-Ball Series Against West Indies
- The News Mill — Rohit Sharma Considered for India’s West Indies ODI Squad After Lord’s Century
- Hindustan Times — India Squad Announcement (IND vs WI ODI series)
- Rediff — Selection meeting delayed in Delhi; Indian team for West Indies ODIs to be named tonight
- Kalinga TV — India Announce West Indies ODI Squad
Squads, dates, and match details in this article come from the official BCCI and ICC announcements dated September 16, 2026, along with later reporting on player form and selection context.
