India’s bowling attack came under pressure during the first ODI against West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 2026. West Indies posted 295/7 after being asked to bat first, but India responded confidently in the chase to win the match by eight wickets. Despite the comfortable result, India’s bowling performance offered plenty for the team management to assess.

Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar explained that the conditions changed considerably between the two innings, making life more difficult for India’s bowlers. “The conditions in Thiruvananthapuram were quite different. In the first innings, there was no seam or swing. But when West Indies bowled, they got it. So it was more challenging for India,” Nayar told JioHotstar.

Nayar also assessed the performances of young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and pacer Gurnoor Brar. He stressed that inexperienced bowlers need to be given time and backing, particularly when the team is looking to build depth for the future.

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According to Abhishek Nayar, Nitish faced a different challenge when bowling with the older ball. The all-rounder is more accustomed to operating with the new ball in T20 cricket, including during his IPL appearances. “The lengths from the Indian bowlers were not bad. Batting was also good. Nitish Kumar Reddy was punished with the old ball because he usually bowls with the new ball in T20 cricket, like he did in the IPL. This is a one-off. But it is an investment,” Nayar explained.

Gurnoor Brar, meanwhile, was playing only his seventh ODI, making his experience at international level relatively limited. Nayar believes such opportunities are important for India’s long-term bowling plans, even if young players occasionally concede runs. “When you give chances to inexperienced bowlers, you have to accept that they will go for runs or might not pick wickets. Overall, the team pulled it back well,” he said.

Nayar also identified areas where India can improve, particularly their consistency with bowling lengths. He pointed to Gurnoor’s second spell as an example of how variations can make a difference.

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“The powerplay is not a concern yet. But the ball pitching areas need to be more consistent. The areas where he got hit for fours and where he took wickets need to change. In Gurnoor’s second spell, when he used the short ball, he looked like a completely different bowler compared to when he just hit a hard length. I think India will get better with time,” Abhishek Nayar added.

Kuldeep Yadav provided India with the standout bowling performance in the first ODI, claiming 4/40 from his 10 overs on his return to the format. His spell played a key role in restricting West Indies to a manageable total. India will now travel to Guwahati for the second ODI at Barsapara Stadium on Wednesday, with the match scheduled to begin at 2pm local time. The contest will provide another opportunity for India’s younger bowlers to gain valuable experience while working on their execution.