Ahead of the ODI series against India, the West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has stated that it’s a great opportunity for his side to challenge themselves and put up a good show to win the series, which they’ve not done in 24 years.
It’s worth noting that the West Indies have not won a bilateral ODI series in India for 24 years. The three-match ODI series begins on Sunday, September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram. Notably, the West Indies missed automatic qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup and will take part in the World Cup qualifiers.
“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 ourselves as to where we are in ODIs. And I think it’s a great opportunity for us, the players that we have, to come and put in a good show against India and look to win a series, something we’ve not done in 24 years,” said Sammy.
“If you have to win a major ICC event, especially in the white-ball format, you have to beat India. And we playing them here at home in their conditions and performing well and winning gives us a fair idea as to what we could do as a team and how capable we are in competing on the world stage. Heading into the qualifiers in February, you know, that is our No. 1 focus – 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,” he added.
After the conclusion of the three-match ODI series, the action moves to the five-match T20I series commencing on Tuesday, October 6 in Lucknow.
West Indies ODI squad: Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales.
West Indies T20I squad: Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer.
