IND vs WI 1st ODI: Rohit Sharma Smashes First-Ball Four as India Begin 296 Chase

Rohit Sparks 296-Run Chase with First-Ball Boundary: India 4/0 After Opening Over Against West Indies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — Rohit Sharma began India’s pursuit of 296 in commanding fashion, dispatching the very first delivery of the innings to the fence as India reached 4/0 at the end of the opening over in the first ODI against the West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium.

Chasing a testing target of 296 on a surface that offered assistance to spin, the Indian skipper wasted no time setting the tone. Facing the Caribbean opening attack, Rohit leaned into the opening ball with trademark timing, threading the infield to pick up four runs and get the scoreboard moving immediately. The remaining deliveries were negotiated with caution, leaving India unscathed at 4/0 after over one.

Greaves Century Anchors Caribbean Effort

Earlier in the afternoon, the West Indies posted a competitive 295/7 in their allocated 50 overs after being asked to bat. The visitors' innings was built around a measured century by middle-order batter Justin Greaves, whose calculated acceleration kept the Caribbean side afloat after early setbacks.

Greaves rotated strike effectively against the Indian pacers and found timely boundaries to anchor the middle and death overs. Valuable lower-order contributions pushed the total near the 300-run mark, setting up an intriguing battle under the lights.

Kuldeep Yadav Leads India's Fightback with Four Scalps

India’s bowling department was spearheaded by left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who broke crucial partnerships through the middle phase. Utilizing grip and drift, Kuldeep dismantled the West Indian engine room to finish with standout figures of 4 wickets, halting the visitors' momentum when a 320-plus total appeared within reach.

With the required run rate hovering just under six runs per over, India's top order—led by Rohit Sharma—faces the task of building a solid foundation in the powerplay against the new ball before the pitch slows down in the middle overs.