Kohli Passes 15,000 ODI Runs As India Take Series Lead

Virat Kohli became the second batter to reach 15,000 ODI runs on Sunday in Thiruvananthapuram, finishing unbeaten on 139 as India beat West Indies by eight wickets in the first one-day international. Sachin Tendulkar is the only other man to have got there. Kohli passed the mark in the middle of a chase India controlled from the twelfth over onwards.

West Indies had posted 295 at the Greenfield International Stadium. Justin Greaves made a maiden ODI hundred to get them that far. Kuldeep Yadav then took four for 40. Shubman Gill made 110. India lead the three-match series 1-0.

Kohli's unbeaten 139

Kohli faced 88 balls. He hit 10 fours and nine sixes. It was his 86th century in international cricket. He was unbeaten when the winning runs came. Nine sixes in an innings of 88 balls is why India chased 296 at better than seven an over.

Reuters reported that India finished on 296 for two with 50 balls to spare, and that Rohit Sharma was dismissed in the twelfth over. Kohli and Gill batted through the rest of it. Roston Chase eventually removed Gill, by which point the target was within reach.

• Virat Kohli 139 not out off 88 balls, with 10 fours and nine sixes
• Shubman Gill 110 off 108 balls
• Justin Greaves 101, his first ODI century
• Amir Jangoo 58
• Kuldeep Yadav four for 40

Greaves hundred goes unrewarded

Greaves had never made an ODI hundred before Sunday. He reached three figures in a West Indies innings of 295. Amir Jangoo made 58. Outlook India also credited John Campbell with 62 from 60 balls.

Kuldeep was the pick of the India attack. His four for 40 was the best return by either side. West Indies finished short of 300 despite the century. They have now lost the opening match of the tour, and a total of 295 was passed with 50 balls to spare and only two wickets down.

The second man to 15,000

Only Tendulkar had passed 15,000 ODI runs before this. The News Mill reported that Kohli got there in his 303rd ODI innings, the same number of innings Tendulkar needed, though Tendulkar had played 315 matches by that stage. The same report credited Kohli with equalling Tendulkar's 59 List A hundreds and his 42 ODI centuries scored at home.

Where the series stands

Two matches remain. West Indies batted first, made 295 and lost by eight wickets with 50 balls unused, which leaves them needing to win both of the games that follow to take the series.

Greaves is the immediate positive for the tourists. A first ODI hundred on the opening day of a tour gives the middle order something to build on, and Jangoo's 58 came in the same innings. Chase also took a wicket.

India have plenty to take forward. Gill made 110. Kuldeep took four. Kohli left the ground past a mark only one cricketer had reached before him, and the second and third matches of the series are still to be played.