Sammy pinpoints PowerPlay weakness holding Windies back against India
Daren Sammy
Key Points(5)
- West Indies head coach Darren Sammy believes his team must win the battle in the PowerPlay with both bat and ball to overcome India on their home turf, identifying the opening phase as the decisive factor in the ongoing T20 International series.
- Sammy pointed to India’s blistering starts, with the hosts scoring at nearly 14.5 runs per over in the PowerPlay, as the main reason the West Indies have repeatedly been forced to fight their way back into matches.
- Although the Caribbean side has managed to restrict the scoring rate to below 10 runs per over across the following three phases, the damage done early has proved difficult to erase.
- “We have had to pull the game back every single time.
- That [PowerPlay] is an area we need to work on.
West Indies head coach Darren Sammy believes his team must win the battle in the PowerPlay with both bat and ball to overcome India on their home turf, identifying the opening phase as the decisive factor in the ongoing T20 International series.
Sammy pointed to India’s blistering starts, with the hosts scoring at nearly 14.5 runs per over in the PowerPlay, as the main reason the West Indies have repeatedly been forced to fight their way back into matches. Although the Caribbean side has managed to restrict the scoring rate to below 10 runs per over across the following three phases, the damage done early has proved difficult to erase.
“We have had to pull the game back every single time. That [PowerPlay] is an area we need to work on. To beat India in India, you really have to win both PowerPlays, with bat and ball,” he stated.
Batting firepower is not the problem
Despite the challenge of containing India, Sammy believes the West Indies have shown they possess enough batting power to compete with the hosts.
He pointed to the observations of assistant coach Ravi Rampaul, who has emphasized the value of limiting boundaries by forcing opponents to hit fours rather than sixes, potentially saving two runs each time.
The West Indies, Sammy noted, had outscored India in sixes in the previous match, reinforcing his belief that his side can match the hosts' explosive approach.
“We definitely out-sixed them in the last game. When you play on good batting wickets, you always feel you are in the game. You are just two big overs away from getting yourself back into it.”
That ability to recover, however, places an even greater burden on the bowling unit to prevent opposition totals from becoming overwhelming.
Bowlers must keep 250 out of reach
Sammy acknowledged that high-scoring conditions have become a feature of modern T20 cricket, particularly on surfaces that favor aggressive stroke play. But he believes the West Indies must be more effective at preventing India from turning imposing totals into potentially match-winning ones.
“We all understand that these are often 200-plus wickets. If 200 is a par score, you have to prevent the opposition from getting to 250.”
The challenge, therefore, is not simply to contain India after the PowerPlay, but to ensure the early damage does not force the West Indies into an increasingly difficult recovery effort.
Sammy stands firmly behind Chase
The 42-year-old coach also defended his decision to retain Roston Chase, acknowledging the criticism surrounding the all-rounder's place in the team while stressing the qualities he brings to the bowling attack.
Sammy highlighted Chase's discipline, tactical awareness and preference for controlling runs, arguing that those characteristics provide a valuable defensive option in a format increasingly dominated by aggressive batting.
“I understand why I get a lot of criticism for having Roston in the team, but I understand the individual he is. Roston is naturally very disciplined in all aspects of his life. He does not like conceding runs, so he has a very clear defensive mindset. He knows how not to get hit, and he is an intelligent cricketer.”
For Sammy, Chase's value extends beyond the wickets column, with his ability to read situations and limit scoring forming part of the team's broader strategy.
Hope's influence should inspire others
Sammy also pushed back against suggestions that the West Indies rely too heavily on captain and batter Shai Hope to deliver results.
While acknowledging the composure Hope brings to the middle, the head coach believes the rest of the batting lineup must learn to demonstrate similar calmness when pressure builds.
“He brings calm to the middle when he is there, and perhaps some of our other players need to adapt to that calmness when the pressure is on. But he is not the only reason we win games.”
Sammy's assessment points to a clear priority for the West Indies as the series continues: sharpen their PowerPlay execution, contain India's scoring bursts and ensure the responsibility for delivering results is shared across the team.
