India will be hosting the West Indies for three ODIs and three T20Is in September-October 2026. The West Indies had previously visited India for two tests this year and now will play a white-ball series. The first ODI will be played in Trivandrum on September 27; the second ODI will be played on September 30 in Guwahati, and the third ODI on October 3 in New Chandigarh.
India has unveiled the squad for the ODI series, and some amazing players will have a chance to shine in the absence of some regulars. Some of the players have been given a chance to shine, and we take a look at five such Indian players to watch out for.
Here are the 5 Indian players to watch out for in the IND vs. WI ODI series:
- Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj has been a Test-exclusive bowler since 2025 began. He was not picked for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as well, and his last ODI came against New Zealand in January 2026. However, the BCCI selectors have gone back to him in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and perhaps to get him acclimatised to the ODI format, as he is on the radar for the 2027 World Cup tournament.
Siraj has an impressive record in ODIs, taking 76 wickets in 50 matches, with the best bowling figures of 6/21 in the Asia Cup, and was one of the most impressive bowlers in India’s 2023 World Cup tournament. He will lead the pace attack in West Indies ODIs, and we expect him to break into the regular XI on a basis of pure performance.
- Naman Dhir
Punjab batter Naman Dhir has been handed his maiden India ODI call-up after an impressive performance in the recent Sher-E-Punjab T20 League, where he was the Player of the Series with 655 runs and 7 fifties, which included a score of 173 runs. Dhir is also a capable bowler and will solve India’s issues of batters not contributing with the ball.
His record is also very good with 669 FC runs, 351 List-A runs, and 1222 runs in T20s. His List-A strike rate is 106, and his T20 strike rate is 156.26. He has also impressed in the IPL for Mumbai Indians (MI), scoring 710 runs with 3 fifties and a strike rate of 163.97. Expect Dhir to get at least one game in the ODI series to test him out.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been named in the India ODI squad as a backup opener for the West Indies ODIs. However, there have been reports that he might also play in the series, opening with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill batting at no. 4. Jaiswal has been knocking hard on the India ODI team’s doors, and it looks like they are about to crack.
Jaiswal might have only played 6 ODIs but has scored 285 runs with two centuries at an average of 71.25. His List-A record is excellent with 1860 runs in 41 games, at an average of 53.14 with 7 centuries and 7 fifties, and a best score of 203. It will be criminal for the Indian team to keep such a talented batter out of the playing XI to accommodate someone else.
- Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav has been named in the India ODI squad after being ignored for the Asian Games 2026 event. Kuldeep Yadav has not been in the best of form with the ball, having been benched for the second Sri Lanka Test and having played only one T20I in India’s 2026 T20 World Cup win. His last ODI was also against Afghanistan at home and he was dropped for the England tour.
Kuldeep Yadav has 194 wickets in 121 ODIs, with the best bowling figures of 6/25, and is the only Indian with two hat-tricks in the format. Unlike Tests, Kuldeep has been regularly playing in ODI format and is a wicket-taking option for his captain in the spin department. Expect him to come good against Windies, who are not the best batters against spin.
- Rohit Sharma
While Virat Kohli has more or less confirmed his berth in India’s 2027 World Cup squad thanks to his form and fitness, the same cannot be said for Rohit Sharma. The 39-year-old former captain was given a lifeline after he scored 138 in the Lord’s ODI against England. But his form and fitness will be under constant scrutiny as he has been lacking a proper run.
The selectors have put pressure on Rohit Sharma to score by including Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Indian squad for Windies ODIs, and if Rohit Sharma fails to score big in the series, it might be curtains for his World Cup dream.
