Sammy sees major strides as Windies match India in T20I series
Daren Sammy
Key Points(5)
- West Indies head coach Daren Sammy believes his team has made significant progress after holding India to a 2-2 draw in their five-match T20 International series, a result he considers a fair reflection of the contest despite a rain-disrupted finale in Bengaluru.
- For Sammy, the outcome represented more than a respectable result against the defending champions.
- It was evidence that the Caribbean side is beginning to overcome the doubts surrounding its performances and establish a stronger belief in its ability to compete with the world's leading teams.
- The West Indies entered the series with a troubling record in India, having lost all three of their previous bilateral T20I series there and won only one of seven matches.
- Expectations of a breakthrough were therefore limited, but Sammy said his players had refused to be defined by outside assessments.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy believes his team has made significant progress after holding India to a 2-2 draw in their five-match T20 International series, a result he considers a fair reflection of the contest despite a rain-disrupted finale in Bengaluru.
For Sammy, the outcome represented more than a respectable result against the defending champions. It was evidence that the Caribbean side is beginning to overcome the doubts surrounding its performances and establish a stronger belief in its ability to compete with the world's leading teams.
The West Indies entered the series with a troubling record in India, having lost all three of their previous bilateral T20I series there and won only one of seven matches. Expectations of a breakthrough were therefore limited, but Sammy said his players had refused to be defined by outside assessments.
"It's a true reflection of how all the teams have played, especially for our guys," Sammy said during the post-match press conference following the final T20I in Bengaluru.
"I'm pretty sure when the series started, we probably didn't have a chance. But that was just the opinion of others."
A statement of intent against the champions
Although Sammy would have preferred to leave India with a series victory, he believes the performances demonstrated how far the team has progressed.
"We would want to win, because (that's) something we've not done forever in India, so it would have been nice," he remarked.
The coach acknowledged that success must be measured against the realities confronting the West Indies, but insisted that the team's focus remains on making steady improvements rather than taking its progress for granted.
"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."
The drawn series thus offered the West Indies encouragement that their recent improvements can translate into competitive performances away from home, even against formidable opposition.
Confidence and Caribbean flair return
Sammy pointed to the team's attitude as one of the most encouraging aspects of its resurgence, highlighting the intent and confidence displayed by his players.
He believes the familiar West Indies flair is returning, with players increasingly willing to express themselves and trust their ability to deliver under pressure.
"All the guys in the dressing room, they've gone out there and played with intent and I think what was good to see is that the swagger is back, the confidence is back.
"It started during the World Cup and you could see guys enjoying, and there was a willingness to win.
"That's where it starts, the belief that we belong where we are, and to have the performances that says you belong there. Hopefully, right now it's just been consistent."
The coach's optimism is supported by a series of encouraging results. The West Indies recently won a home T20I series against Sri Lanka and reached the semifinals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India before carrying that momentum into the contest against the reigning champions.
For Sammy, maintaining that consistency will be the next challenge as the team seeks to turn renewed belief into sustained success.
Bangladesh presents the next test
The West Indies will now turn their attention to the longer format, with a two-match ICC World Test Championship series against Bangladesh scheduled to begin on October 28.
The upcoming assignment will provide a different examination of the team's capabilities, but Sammy's immediate assessment of the T20I campaign is clear: the West Indies have taken an important step forward.
While a series win in India remains an ambition, the 2-2 result has given the team tangible evidence that it can challenge elite opposition on their home ground—and renewed confidence that the rebuilding process is moving in the right direction.
