Sammy says West Indies continue to improve despite series defeat in India

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has said his side continue to make progress in key areas despite falling 2-0 behind India in the three-match ODI series, with the third and final match scheduled in New Chandigarh on October 3, 2026.

Sammy acknowledged the difficult context of touring India, where West Indies have not won a bilateral ODI series for approximately 20 years. He further elaborated on the progress that the side have made, and being able to capitalise on the talent in the region.

"Yes, the results have not gone our way, but we continue to improve in certain areas. Understanding the objective of this trip and what success means for my team, I think we have taken some strides - not only now, but overall too. You come to India and you hear you haven't won a series here in 20-odd years, I understand what I have in my dressing room, the talent we have as a region, and what we could be. So, for me, success is not always winning series against the top team. It is the strides we take as an international team, and that goes across the board," Sammy said, as quoted by Cricinfo.

How have West Indies performed with the bat in this series?

West Indies have produced some notable batting performances across the first two ODIs, even as India won both matches comfortably. In the first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 2026, West Indies posted 295, but India chased the target inside 42 overs. In the second ODI in Guwahati on September 30, 2026, West Indies raised their total significantly to 405 for 7, yet India again overhauled the target, this time inside 44 overs. Across both matches, West Indies batters struck four centuries, a figure Sammy highlighted as a positive indicator. Sammy pointed to the intent shown by his top order as an encouraging sign, noting:

"I think the important thing for us was that we batted with intent. It's something we have spoken about in the dressing room - batters in the top four scoring hundreds. We have had four hundreds in two games. That is a positive. The rotation of strike and the intent, especially against spin - these are the little things, the KPIs," Sammy said.

However, Sammy acknowledged that West Indies left runs on the table in Guwahati, especially in the last ten overs of their innings. He also lauded the Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill for taking the game away early in the powerplay.

He said: "When we look back, we review if we left runs out there? I'm pretty sure we did. Especially when you find yourself in a good position on a good pitch, you should be able to double the score at 30 overs. We were 230-odd for 2 after 30 overs in Guwahati, so you are looking at 450 or thereabouts. But in the last ten overs, when you are supposed to accelerate, we only scored 70-odd. You take wickets in the powerplay and in the middle and build pressure. But Shubman [Gill] and Rohit [Sharma] didn't really give us a chance. Rohit scored 100 off 70-odd balls and Shubman Gill was even faster. They scored big hundreds. I was telling the guys: when you get pitches like that, sometimes the team requires you to score 170, not just 100" Sammy said.

How has the Cricket West Indies pay cut affected the touring squad?

Just before the India tour began, Cricket West Indies announced a 25% reduction in player retainer fees as part of measures to address ongoing financial challenges. Sammy acknowledged the timing was far from ideal but said he understood the rationale behind the decision. Sammy reflected on the financial pressures facing the organisation.

"If you have a business that's not doing well financially, you have got to find ways to sustain it. Unless we get some big sum of money with which we could entice our players, let them know that everything is going to be okay financially, that's the situation. So we try our best but it is a big mirror - you can't escape seeing the reflection of all the struggles that are present. So I commend the guys for the way they have put their heads down," Sammy said.

Since taking charge in May 2023, Sammy has overseen four wins from seven home ODI series. For context, between October 2014 and April 2023, West Indies won just four of 30 bilateral ODI series. The third ODI in New Chandigarh on October 3, 2026 gives West Indies an opportunity to avoid a whitewash on the tour.