Thiruvananthapuram, September 24: West Indies head coach Daren Sammy believes the upcoming three-match ODI series against India will provide his side with an important opportunity to measure their progress against the world’s No. 1 ODI team and end a 24-year wait for a series victory on Indian soil.
The series begins in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, followed by matches in Guwahati on September 30 and New Chandigarh on October 3.
For West Indies, the tour represents another significant test as they prepare for next year’s ODI qualification campaign. Sammy said facing India in their own conditions will give his players a clear indication of their standing in international cricket.
“Playing in India is always a great series to take part in. India being the number one team,” Sammy said in a video shared by Cricket West Indies.
“For us to come out here, it’s been 24 years; we’ve not won a series here in India. So it’s a great opportunity for us as a team to come out here and challenge ourselves and measure up to where we are in the world in one-day cricket,” he added.
West Indies Look to Build Before ODI Qualifiers
West Indies have made considerable progress during the current ODI qualification cycle but fell six points short of automatic qualification. They will therefore have to go through the qualifiers next year.
Sammy believes the improvement in the team’s position reflects the progress made over the past year.
“Starting from where we were back then, which was, I think, 19 or 20 points behind, and accumulating those points, I thought we made a lot of strides in making a claim to automatic qualification,” he said.
The India series will also give West Indies an opportunity to experiment with combinations and assess players ahead of the qualifiers scheduled for February.
“Heading into the qualifiers in February, our number one focus is continuing to fine-tune the team so that when we go to the qualifiers, we put ourselves in a position to book our ticket to South Africa,” Sammy said.
Shai Hope, Keacy Carty Lead West Indies Batting Charge
Sammy has also been encouraged by the development of the West Indies batting unit.
Captain Shai Hope has been a key figure, while Keacy Carty and other members of the batting group have also produced significant contributions, including centuries.
“Our batting has come a long way during this period. Shai Hope is not the only one scoring hundreds. We’ve gotten hundreds from different players,” Sammy said.
The squad also receives a boost with the return of fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who was part of Antigua’s Caribbean Premier League title-winning campaign.
Youngster Jewel Andrew is also in line for opportunities as Sammy looks to give members of his squad valuable exposure before the qualifiers.
“Everybody will be getting an opportunity. Because after that, I think this is probably our last ODI series. It is our last ODI series of the year,” Sammy said.
India Squad Features Auqib Nabi
India will enter the series with a strong squad led by Shubman Gill, with the selectors also handing a maiden ODI call-up to Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi.
Nabi’s inclusion marks another significant step in his rapid rise at the international level. The J&K seamer has been rewarded for his performances in domestic cricket and his recent stint with Surrey, where he impressed during his County Championship appearances.
The India squad also includes established names such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, while KL Rahul has been named vice-captain.
The Indian squad for the ODI series includes:
Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna and Auqib Nabi.
For Nabi, the series could provide an opportunity to make his international debut, adding another chapter to the growing profile of the Jammu and Kashmir pacer.
West Indies Squad for India ODIs
West Indies will be led by Shai Hope, with John Campbell returning after missing the final two ODIs against New Zealand because of a hamstring injury.
Jewel Andrew has been included in place of Ackeem Auguste, who is recovering following surgery. Shimron Hetmyer has been rested for the ODI leg and is expected to join the squad for the subsequent T20I series.
The West Indies squad includes:
Shai Hope (Captain), John Campbell, Brandon King, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Shamarh Brooks, Justin Greaves, Jewel Andrew, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, Gudakesh Motie and Matthew Forde.
T20I Series to Follow
The India-West Indies tour will continue after the ODI series with a five-match T20I series from October 6 to October 17.
The T20Is will be played in Lucknow, Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
The West Indies team left the Caribbean on September 21 and arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on September 23, with preparations now underway for the opening ODI.
For Sammy and his team, the three-match series represents both a test against one of the world’s leading sides and an opportunity to build momentum ahead of the crucial ODI qualifiers.
