BENGALURU, India – West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has lauded his team’s performances in the shorter format of the game over the past few months, pointing out that he had seen major improvements in all facets of the game.
His comments came following Saturday’s no result in the fifth and final T20I between his side and India at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which left the series tied at 2-2.
Only 7.4 overs were bowled during the rain-hit contest, with India reaching 118 for five before heavy showers forced a premature end to the decider.
Speaking during a post-match press conference, Sammy said the fact that the seventh ranked West Indies was able to hold its own against the second best T20I side in the world could not be overlooked.
In the three previous T20I bilateral series between the two teams in India, the home side won all, with the Windies mustering a solitary win.
Earlier this year the Windies reached the semifinals of the 2026 T20I World Cup before being knocked out by India and followed it up with a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka in their T20I series at home in June.
“It’s a true reflection of how all the teams have played, especially for our guys. I’m pretty sure when the series started, we probably didn’t have a chance. But that was just the opinion of others.
“We would have liked to win because that’s something we’ve not done forever in India, so it would have been nice. I think the cup still is in our favour because we won the home leg the last time we played (in 2023) 3-2,” Sammy said.
“We understand what success means to us; we don’t ever take for granted where we are as a team and the challenges that we face. We just look to make those strides, and I think after this series, we’ve taken a massive step. We played against the defending champions and we’ve matched them, [and] in certain areas we’ve outplayed them, especially in their backyard.”
With the regional team’s financial woes well publicised, Sammy said he hoped their progress on the field would lead to financial stability off of it.
Before the start of the tour Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced major financial restructuring featuring a number of moves, including a 25 per cent pay cut for contracted international players.
“…I think it’s important to understand what West Indies cricket means, not only to the region, but to the world and to the game…” Sammy said.
“I’ve heard the stories of guys [from past West Indies teams] spending three-four months in a place touring, playing warm-up matches, spreading their talent by the way they played and the fanbase that they created, and the revenue they generated for so many people.
“I think it’s important; my mom always says you must have a care factor. No matter what you do in life, the human nature should never lose that care factor. I think we’re in a position where we need somebody to put a [hand around the shoulder of] West Indies cricket. Financially, that is, and series like this, here in India, against the best team in the world, puts us in a conversation closer to that,” he maintained. (CMC)
