West Indies head coach Daren Sammy believes that a 2-2 scoreline is a remarkably fair and accurate reflection of his side’s fiercely contested T20I series against India, even though the fifth and final encounter in Bengaluru was ultimately washed out without a ball being bowled.
The abandonment of the series finale left the bilateral contest level, but for Sammy and his squad, the journey through the sub-continent represented far more than just a shared trophy. It was a tangible validation of a team steadily regaining its competitive identity on the world stage.
"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 washout. "I’m pretty sure when the series started, we probably didn’t have a chance. But that was just the opinion of others."
Historically, traveling to the sub-continent for bilateral T20I assignments has been an arduous task for the Caribbean side. Prior to this tour, West Indies had played three previous bilateral T20I series against India away from home, losing every single one of them and managing just a solitary victory across seven matches. Breaking that cycle of dominance by running the hosts neck-and-neck through four completed matches was described by Sammy as a "massive step" toward the overarching goals of the program.
While acknowledging that a series victory would have been preferable—especially given that a series win in India is a feat the team has not accomplished in recent memory—Sammy noted that the psychological upper hand in the broader rivalry still rests with them.
"We would want to win, because something we’ve not done forever in India, so it would have been nice," Sammy said. "I think the cup still is in our favour because we won the home leg the last time we played in 2023 3-2. 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."
Beyond the immediate boundaries of the cricket field, Sammy harbours deeper aspirations for what this on-field progress can achieve. He hopes that consistent, competitive performances against elite opposition can help steer West Indies cricket away from long-standing financial instability and toward a more secure economic future.
The roots of the board’s monetary struggles run deep. According to Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Chris Dehring, a pivotal turning point occurred in 1997 when the International Cricket Council voted to alter the financial architecture of international cricket. During that vote, the then-West Indies Cricket Board was outvoted by fellow members, resulting in a systemic shift that allowed host boards to retain all revenues generated from bilateral series.
With the subsequent loss of touring fees and shifting broadcast landscapes, boards representing smaller populations and domestic economies, such as the West Indies, lost a vital and reliable source of financial independence. The decades that followed have seen the organization grapple with multiple monetary crises, culminating just last month when CWI announced sweeping financial restructuring measures, which included a difficult 25 per cent pay cut for contracted international players.
Reflecting on these systemic challenges, Sammy emphasized the historical significance and global footprint of West Indian cricket, arguing that the sport deserves broader backing to protect its rich legacy.
"You heard the CEO spoke about things that happened in 1997 that kind of has us in this situation," Sammy said, "but I think it’s important to understand what West Indies cricket means, not only to the region but to the world and to the game. I’ve heard the stories of guys from past West Indies teams spending three or four months in a place touring, playing warm-up matches, spreading their talent by the way they played and the fanbase that they created, and the revenue they generated for so many people."
The head coach underscored the human element of the struggle, stressing that the historic contributions of West Indian cricketers to the global game should warrant greater solidarity from the wider cricketing ecosystem.
"I think it’s important, my mom always says you must have a care factor," Sammy added. "No matter what you do in life, the human nature should never lose that care factor. I think we’re in a position where we need somebody to put a hand around the shoulder of West Indies cricket. Financially, that is, and series like this, here in India, against the best team in the world, puts us in a conversation closer to that."
This competitive resurgence in India did not happen in a vacuum. It forms part of a broader upward trajectory for the squad over the past year. Before arriving in India for this assignment, West Indies secured a morale-boosting T20I series victory against Sri Lanka at home and followed it up with a stellar run to the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup, which was held in India earlier this year in March.
That consistent presence in high-stakes matches has helped restore a distinct cultural identity within the dressing room, characterized by expressive play and collective belief.
"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," Sammy said. "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."
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