West Indies head coach Daren Sammy highlighted the resilient mindset of his squad ahead of the series-deciding fifth T20I against India in Bengaluru.
Despite entering the series under strict Cricket West Indies financial constraints—which included a 25% fee reduction for international retainers and the cancellation of key domestic tournaments—the Caribbean team pushed the defending world champions to the absolute limit.
Prior to the final match, West Indies secured three notable wins on Indian soil during this tour. After losing the first two ODIs, the Shai Hope-led side bounced back to pull off their highest successful run-chase (352/5) in the third match.
During the T20I series, the tourists registered their highest ever run-chase by successfully tracking down a target of 250 in the second match in Ranchi. They posted a massive 247/3 in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad to win by 24 runs and leave the series locked at 2-2.
By winning three matches against India away from home on a single tour, West Indies broke a 20-year drought, validating Sammy’s perspective that true success lies in incremental progress.
"For us, what success means may be different to the viewers. But with us as a group, [this] is the first time we've won more than two games on an Indian tour [against India] in 20 years. So for us, success is progress. In spite of all the challenges that we face, if we could come here and compete against the best team in the world, defending champions, we tick boxes that keep us in the conversation [that's progress]," Sammy said in the pre-match press conference on Friday (October 16).
"Before the series started, we all know the pay cuts and everything that happened. West Indies are doing well, and they continue to be a team that brings entertainment to the world when we are doing well, and it's not because of, it's in spite of all the challenges that we face," he added.
Flat batting tracks have headlined this T20I series where the last six innings crossed totals of 200. However, Sammy is not one bit surprised by the nature of wickets.
"I think when you come to India," Sammy said, "you watch the IPL, this is the type of surface that the guys are accustomed to playing [on]. Lucky for us, we have guys who have experience playing here.
"It's been tough on bowlers. But I thought the last two games, with no dew around, became a slightly more even contest. You look at the last two games where the dew has not played a factor, bowlers still had a chance in the game. So, I think good wickets with no dew presents a more even contest where the skills could be executed as we've seen throughout this series."
The series-decider in Bengaluru will mark West Indies' eighth white-ball game in 20 days. The visiting team has travelled across eight different Indian cities.
"The demands on the body from the travel - it's eight different cities. I think it's probably only India that has that luxury, and every city brings a different challenge, throughout the tour here, and India's a place we enjoy touring. The fans are crazy about cricket, you play in front of a full stadium every single time, you understand and see different parts of the country," Sammy remarked.
"For us, as a coach, as a group, and the medical and fitness group as well is [our goal is] to manage the players. It's been a long tour, you play every other day, so that is something we spoke about, but it's been beautiful, and the fact that we've made the cricket really competitive, it's good for viewership. People in the Caribbean want West Indies doing well, it lightens the mood of every single person. It's been box-office TV and, hopefully, tomorrow gives us that opportunity to bring the curtains down on an excellent tour and an excellent series."
(With Cricinfo Inputs)
