India made a winning start to their three-match ODI series against the West Indies, securing a comfortable victory in the opening game at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, September 27. Virat Kohli and captain Shubman Gill were the standout performers with centuries, while Rohit Sharma also made a positive start before his innings ended prematurely. Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes Rohit could be disappointed with the way he threw away his wicket after getting himself set.

The veteran opener looked comfortable at the crease and timed the ball well, but attempted an ambitious shot and paid the price. Speaking on his official YouTube channel while analysing the first ODI, Chopra pointed out that Rohit appeared well placed to convert his start into a substantial score. The former India captain scored 32 runs from 35 deliveries, including two fours and three sixes, before being dismissed.

“He was batting quite well, actually, right through to his wicket in the end. And this is something that must be bothering him as well, that he had got a start, the ball was coming nicely onto the bat, and he was looking good. So then, why play that one shot?” Aakash Chopra said.

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Chopra suggested that shot selection could be an area Rohit would look to improve before the second ODI in Guwahati. At the same time, he acknowledged that the experienced opener had looked in good touch during his brief stay at the crease.

“That is something he would want to correct. He would want to correct it when they head to Guwahati. But so far, so good. I mean, he batted well too. It could be that when they go to Guwahati, it will be all about Rohit Sharma,” Aakash Chopra added.

While Rohit missed out on a big score, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill took full advantage of the conditions. Both batters scored centuries to guide India to a convincing win. Kohli also reached the significant milestone of 15,000 ODI runs, becoming the second batter to achieve the feat.

Chopra also discussed whether Gill could eventually reach the same landmark. The former cricketer believes the India captain has the ability to accumulate 15,000 ODI runs if he maintains his current level of performance, although the reduced number of ODI matches could make the journey more challenging.

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“If he continues to play like this, then one thought definitely comes to my mind. This is a question that is often asked: if he plays the same amount of cricket, if he also plays 300 matches, will he also be able to score 15,000 runs?” Aakash Chopra said.

He added that injuries, loss of form and the changing ODI calendar could influence Gill’s chances, but his performances so far suggest he has the potential to reach the milestone. India will now face the West Indies in the second ODI in Guwahati on September 30, with Rohit, Gill and Kohli all expected to attract plenty of attention.