One game changed everything. Kohli scored 139 not out. Gill hit 110. India won by eight wickets. And West Indies are now one match away from their ODI series ending before the World Cup Qualifier even begins. Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on September 30 is where this series either becomes a contest or becomes a whitewash. The rain forecast has other ideas. But so does West Indies.
India vs West Indies 2nd ODI Preview
| Match | India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI |
| Venue | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati |
| Date | September 30, 2026 |
| Toss | 1:00 PM IST |
| Start Time | 1:30 PM IST / 8:00 AM GMT |
| Series | India lead 1-0 |
| Broadcast | Star Sports Network, JioHotstar |
What Happened in the First ODI
India won by eight wickets with more than eight overs remaining. The Thiruvananthapuram result was emphatic. West Indies posted 295 for 7 on the back of Justin Greaves’ century of 101 and John Campbell’s 62. Kuldeep Yadav took 4 for 40 and dismissed Greaves, Hope, Campbell and Andrew across his ten overs.
The chase began with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill at the top. Rohit fell for 32 caught off Alzarri Joseph. Then Kohli arrived and changed everything. His 139 not out off 88 balls with nine sixes and ten fours was the innings of the match. He became the fastest batter in history to 15,000 ODI runs doing it. Gill scored 110 off 108. India knocked off the target in 41.4 overs with eight wickets remaining.
West Indies’ Situation: Must Win in Guwahati
West Indies need the September 30 match result to stay alive in the series. They also face a World Cup Qualifier in February-March 2027 that becomes significantly harder to prepare for if they lose the series 2-0.
Sherfane Rutherford is expected to rejoin the squad after missing the first ODI for personal reasons. His return adds middle-order batting power that was absent at Thiruvananthapuram. Rutherford at his best is one of the most destructive middle-order batters in Caribbean cricket. West Indies need exactly that against this India bowling attack.
The September 30 date also carries World Cup Qualifier significance. West Indies need to climb the ICC ODI Rankings above a specific threshold before the cutoff date that passed yesterday. Their direct qualification window is closed. But a series performance that demonstrates competitive ability against the world’s top-ranked side matters for their qualifier preparation momentum.
India’s Selection Dilemma: Who Sits Out?
India won comprehensively on Sunday. The management faces the selection question that comes with dominant victories. Who gets game time in the second match?
Naman Dhir bowled his off-breaks without taking wickets but at an economy of 6.60 in the first match. Whether he keeps his place for Guwahati or gives way to Kuldeep getting extra overs on a flatter surface is one debate.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been in the squad without batting in the first match. At some point, India’s management needs to give him ODI game time. The second match of a series India already lead 1-0 is the logical moment.
Gurnoor Brar went wicketless in ten overs at an economy of 6.00. The Guwahati surface may offer him more. His left-arm pace adds variety alongside Siraj’s right-arm seam.
India Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.
West Indies’ Changes: Rutherford Returns
Sherfane Rutherford’s return is the biggest squad change for West Indies heading into Guwahati. He missed the first match for personal reasons and his absence clearly hurt their middle-order acceleration in the second half of their innings.
West Indies also need more from Keacy Carty. Since his debut in May 2022, Carty is the second-highest ODI run-getter for West Indies behind his captain Shai Hope, with 1827 runs at an average of 40.60.
His talent is not in question but his strike rate is a concern and he will want to add more gears to his game. In the first match he scored 13 off 31 balls in the middle order. That innings pace contributed to West Indies’ inability to accelerate toward the end.
West Indies Probable XI: John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (c, wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Amir Jangoo, Matthew Forde, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, Gudakesh Motie.
History of Barsapara Stadium
Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati is a relatively new international venue. It opened in 2017. Its surface historically has supported batting in the first innings before slowing as the match develops.
West Indies played India here in 2018. In that match, West Indies posted 322 only for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to score rapid hundreds to lead India to victory with 47 balls remaining. The historical precedent in Guwahati already features Kohli scoring a century against West Indies at this exact ground. That is not a coincidence Kohli will have forgotten.
The capacity is approximately 40,000. The outfield is quick. The boundaries are manageable. Totals above 300 are possible in the first innings. India’s batting lineup in their current form is capable of chasing virtually any total they face in the second innings.
Weather Forecast for September 30 in Guwahati
The weather is the most significant concern for the second ODI. Guwahati is still in its monsoon season in late September.
| Day | Rain Chance | High |
|---|---|---|
| September 30 (Match Day) | 45% | 33.6°C |
| October 1 | 15% | 30.8°C |
A 45% rain chance on match day is a genuine threat to a full 50-over contest. If rain interrupts the first innings significantly, Duckworth-Lewis-Stern calculations become the deciding factor. This specifically helps West Indies. India cannot bat for 40-plus overs in a rain-reduced game the way they dominated in Thiruvananthapuram. A shortened game keeps the series alive regardless of how much damage the first match did to West Indies’ confidence.
Key Individual Battles
Kuldeep Yadav vs West Indies Middle Order
Kuldeep’s 4 for 40 in the first match was the defining bowling performance of the series opener. His chinaman spin troubled every right-handed West Indies batter who faced him. How West Indies read him in Guwahati will define their first innings total. If Rutherford and Jangoo attack him with intent, West Indies can post 300-plus on the Barsapara surface. If they play him defensively, Kuldeep runs through their middle order again.
Alzarri Joseph vs Rohit and Kohli
Joseph was expensive in the first match, conceding 81 from nine overs with one wicket. He is too good a bowler to be that expensive twice. His pace with the new ball in Guwahati’s early conditions could be his most significant weapon.
If he dismisses Rohit cheaply in the powerplay, West Indies have a realistic chance of keeping India’s total manageable. His standing among the top bowlers in Caribbean cricket is part of the broader conversation about active bowling quality explored in our piece on the top 10 active batsmen in the world, which gives context for the calibre of opposition Kohli and Rohit are facing heading into the 2027 World Cup build-up.
Virat Kohli vs Guwahati
Kohli scored a century at Barsapara before. He scored 139 not out in Thiruvananthapuram two days ago. He is in the form of his career. A second consecutive century in the second match of this series would be the clearest possible statement about what the 2027 World Cup can expect from him.
The World Cup format and the venues he will face in South Africa next October make this period of form directly relevant, as explored in our piece on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 complete guide.
Win Prediction
India are clear favourites. Their batting is in extraordinary form. Their bowling has variety and control. Their captain leads a settled, confident squad. West Indies showed fight in the first innings at Thiruvananthapuram but were completely outclassed in the chase.
Rain is the wildcard. A 45% chance is significant enough to change the match format. If a full 50-over game is played, India should win comfortably. If rain reduces the match significantly, West Indies have a better chance of keeping themselves in it.
India win probability: 65%
West Indies win probability: 20%
Rain abandonment probability: 15%
Conclusion
India arrive at Barsapara with Kohli in the form of his life and a series lead that leaves West Indies no margin for error. West Indies return Rutherford and need Carty to find another gear. The rain forecast at 45% threatens the entire match. Guwahati has seen Kohli score a century here before. September 30 at 1:30 PM IST will tell us whether this series ends today or goes to New Chandigarh for a decider. India have all the momentum. West Indies have nothing to lose.
