Photo via India Today

Ro-Ko return as India enter final stretch of World Cup preparations with WI ODIs

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli make their return as India begins a three-match ODI series against the West Indies, marking a crucial phase in preparations for the 2027 World Cup. The opening fixture takes place on Sunday, September 27, with the toss set for 1:30 PM IST, and fans can watch live via the Star Sports Network and the JioHotstar platform.

India enters the contest missing the services of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya due to injuries, having dropped two of their three ODI series earlier in the year.

For the visitors, led by Daren Sammy, the tour serves as a vital assessment period following the disappointment of missing direct qualification for the upcoming global tournament, which forces them to navigate the qualifiers once more. Ranking tenth in the ICC standings, the squad looks to overturn a historical drought, having last secured a bilateral series victory over India in 2006 and a series win away in 2002.

Pacing duties will rest on bowling options like Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales, while Alzarri Joseph targets the middle overs to challenge the hosts.

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