West Indies head coach Daren Sammy is keeping things in perspective as his team faces a 2-0 deficit in the ODI series against India. He knows that success isn’t always about winning, especially for a side that has struggled in bilateral series for years. Since taking over in May 2023, Sammy has made it a priority to turn the Caribbean into a fortress, and they’ve managed to win four of seven home series since then. That, to him, is a sign of real progress.
In India, the results haven’t gone their way, but Sammy points out the strides they’ve made. In the first ODI, West Indies scored 295, which India chased down quickly. In the second, they piled on 405, but India still won with ease. Sammy believes the batting intent is there—his players have hit four hundreds in two games, which is a positive. However, they need to be smarter about accelerating in the final overs and adapting to what the pitch demands. If the par score is high, they have to rise to it.
On the bowling side, Sammy wants more discipline and consistency. When pitches favor batting, it’s tough, but he says his bowlers need to restrict the opposition and create pressure. In this series, India’s openers like Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill made it hard by scoring big hundreds quickly.
Adding to the challenge, Cricket West Indies announced a 25% pay cut for players just before the tour due to financial issues. Sammy understands the tough call but told his team that playing India is the perfect time to prove themselves—a win against the best could offer leverage for the future. He commends the players for staying focused despite the setbacks.
Overall, Sammy sees this tour as a learning experience. It’s about the journey, not just the outcome, and he’s proud of how his team is fighting back.
