Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill played key roles in India’s eight-wicket win over West Indies in the first ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 2026.
The pair added 151 runs off 132 balls during India’s successful chase of 296. Gill scored 110 off 108 balls for his 10th ODI century. Kohli remained unbeaten on 139 off 88 deliveries and registered his 55th ODI hundred. Kohli also became only the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to reach 15,000 ODI runs.
Speaking in a special video released by the BCCI, Kohli opened up about his relationship with Gill and the atmosphere they create inside the Indian team.
Kohli explains his understanding with Gill
Kohli said he has shared a friendly relationship with Gill since the youngster entered the Indian team.
“I’ve known him from the time since he came into the team. I’ve always shared like a very free-flowing and fun-filled camaraderie with him. At the end of the day, you make a conscious effort,” Kohli said in a video released by BCCI.
“Now he is in a leadership position, I have been in that position for a long time, and now I am a senior player. So, when senior players or the leaders in the team are smiling and laughing, keeping the environment light, all the other players feel like, Yeah, there’s no problem at all’. Even if it is a big pressure game, everyone is laughing and having fun, it just relaxes the other guys because we are not taking pressure,” he added.
The 151-run stand was their second partnership of more than 150 runs in ODIs. Their biggest came during the 2023 ODI World Cup against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, where they added 189 runs.
Kohli also explained how naturally they bat together.
“When you bat with a player like that, we hardly even talk about the match. Idhar udhar ki baate ho rahi hoti hai (We just talk about random things here and there), because he knows what to do and I know what to do,” Kohli said.
Gill praised Kohli’s current form and confidence.
“We can all see how much Virat bhai is enjoying his batting right now, and I think whether it be the banter on the field or off the field, I think the ease and confidence that he is batting with right now, it also translates from off the field to on the field,” Gill said.
Kohli also stressed that team success matters more than personal milestones. He said:
“You can only play for that long if you are looking to make the team win. You can’t play that long for numbers, because in your need to get numbers, you will compromise on the main goal, and you can’t play for long in that manner. So, I’m lucky to have been in this position for so long, and of course, a big number like that to tick off along the way to another win is quite special,” Kohli said.
The second ODI will be played on September 30 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
