Virat Kohli received a thunderous welcome from fans as he walked out to bat during the first ODI between India and West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, September 27.

The moment Kohli stepped onto the field, the stadium erupted, with thousands of supporters chanting “Virat, Virat”. The former India captain’s return to the ODI arena generated huge excitement among fans, who were eager to see the veteran batter in action once again.

Kohli walked out to bat after Rohit Sharma was dismissed by Alzarri Joseph. As he made his way to the crease, the noise inside the stadium reached another level, with fans cheering for the star batter.

Kohli’s return to the ODI side has been one of the biggest talking points of the series. He is part of India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against West Indies, with the team beginning its preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The veteran batter also had a major milestone in sight. Kohli needed 59 runs to complete 15,000 ODI runs and become only the second batter in men’s ODI history after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the landmark.

Kohli eventually reached the landmark during his innings, adding another major record to his illustrious ODI career. He became the fastest batter to reach 15,000 ODI runs, getting there in his 303rd innings compared to Tendulkar’s 377 innings.

The first ODI between India and West Indies is being played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. India won the toss and elected to field, while Shubman Gill is leading the side in the ODI series.