The Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram boasts 65‑metre square boundaries and a hard Mandya clay base that should let the ball come onto the bat nicely.
Naman Dhir, the 22‑year‑old all‑rounder from Purba Bardhaman, earned his maiden ODI cap as India stacked the XI with a mix of seasoned campaigners and fresh talent.
India’s XI features powerhouses Rohit, Kohli, Rahul, and Gaikwad, while the bowling arsenal is bolstered by Kuldeep, Jadeja, and Dhir’s bowling spell.
Gill, who also leads the side, said, "We’re going to bowl first, looks like a decent surface. It will come better under the lights, so we want to chase."
West Indies captain Shai Hope echoed the sentiment, adding, "We’d also prefer to bowl first; the pitch should improve with the lights on."
The outcome will decide who opens the chase in the second ODI on Monday, a must‑win for India before the World Cup.