With just about a year to go for the 2027 ODI World Cup, India’s preparation for the quadrennial event got off on the right note as it posted a 2-1 series win over the West Indies.

There were, however, some warning signs that the team will want to address soon.

The big positive was the batting. The top-order set up the series victory, led by skipper Shubman Gill, who scored two centuries, including a double-hundred.

More importantly, Rohit Sharma (225 runs) and Virat Kohli (168) were on song. Since this is the only format they play, it is imperative the senior duo maximises every opportunity.

K.L. Rahul got only one chance and proved why he is so vital to the team, scoring an unbeaten 129, even if it went in vain.

However, bowling remains a concern. Granted, the pitches at all three venues had very little for the bowlers. Still, the attack is hardly settled.

Apart from Kuldeep Yadav in the first match, none of the others looked like they could keep the batters honest or provide timely breakthroughs.

The other fast bowlers not being able to take up responsibility showed how the Men in Blue are over-reliant on Bumrah, who was away on Asian Games duty.

The management handed out debuts to Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj, both of whom proved expensive while Mohammed Siraj’s recent struggle continued in the only match he played. Captain Gill admitted as much, saying he would have wanted to see more out of his speedsters.

“Bowling in the PowerPlay and in the death has been hurting us. If you don’t get off to a good start in the PowerPlay, it’s not easy to take wickets in the middle overs as we have seen,” said Gill.

“It’s not easy to create chances with only four fielders outside. The intensity of the game, and how it goes, becomes completely different if you don’t keep taking wickets in either the PowerPlay or the middle overs,” he added.

Going forward, the think-tank needs to quickly identify the right combination for the World Cup and give them enough games to get into a groove, something Gill stressed he wants to do from the next series.

India skipper Shubman Gill etched his name in the record books on Wednesday (September 30, 2026), smashing the fastest double hundred in ODI cricket after reaching the milestone in just 117 balls.

Gill achieved this feat against the West Indies during India’s second ODI in Guwahati on Wednesday (September 30).

The Indian skipper surpassed teammate Ishan Kishan, who had taken 126 balls to score an ODI double century against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2022.

Gill’s feat also made him only the second batter after Glenn Maxwell to score an ODI double century while chasing. Maxwell had produced his remarkable 201 not out against Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in 2023.

The Indian opener also became only the second batter after Rohit Sharma to register multiple double centuries in men’s ODI cricket.

Earlier, Rohit Sharma continued to add new chapters to his remarkable ODI career, reaching yet another landmark as he became only the third Indian batter to complete 12,000 runs in the format. With the milestone, Rohit joined the elite company of legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.

Years into a career filled with records, Rohit continues to find new milestones to chase, adding another significant achievement to his already decorated international career.

Rohit reached 12,000 ODI runs in 282 innings, becoming the second-fastest batter to reach the landmark. Only Virat Kohli has reached the milestone in fewer innings, doing so in 242, while Sachin Tendulkar took 300 innings. Ricky Ponting (314) and Kumar Sangakkara (336) complete the top five.

West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) said the team was working to improve its batting in the middle overs, particularly against spin, but acknowledged that there was still considerable ground to cover.

“When you play on slow, turning pitches in different parts of the world, guys have to make adjustments. Wickets will fall on those types of surfaces. But batting in the middle overs is something that we continue to work on. We want to get really consistent with that.”

“The aim is to get back to 2024 and 2025, where we scored at more than six runs an over in the middle overs. But it’s a work in progress. Guys have improved batting against spin, but there is a long way to go,” he said on the eve of his team’s second ODI against India in Guwahati.

Reifer stressed the importance of the fielding discipline after his side dropped Shubman Gill on 11 in the first ODI, with the India captain going on to score 110.

“Fielding is an attitude. You got to be up for it. You’re playing against the No. 1 team in the world on good pitches and fast outfields… it’s important to take your chances. You can’t afford to drop players like Gill, Rohit [Sharma], and [Virat] Kohli. We’ve really emphasised the importance of staying focused on the field and bringing the right attitude”.