The fifth and final T20I between West Indies and India was rained out, but the head coach of the team, Daren Sammy, thinks that a score of 2-2 is a good reflection of the series.”It really shows how all the teams played, but especially how our guys played,” Sammy said at the press meeting after the game. When the show first started, I think we didn’t have a chance. But that was just what other people thought.
West Indies had played three bilateral T20I series against India in India before this one. They had all lost, with only one win out of seven games. For the second time, they were tied with India. Daren Sammy said, “We would have liked to win because it’s something we haven’t done in a long time in India. It would have been nice.” We won the home game 3-2 the last time we played (in 2023) so I think we’ll still win the cup.
Sammy called this a “massive step” toward their goals.
We know what it means to be successful, and we never take where we are as a team or the problems we face for granted. That’s all we want to do—make progress. I think we’ve done a huge amount with this series. We played the defending champions and were even with them. In some areas, especially in their own backyard, we played better than them.
Sammy hopes that the progress made on the field can help the West Indies get from being unstable to having stable finances. According to CWI CEO Chris Dehring, one of the main reasons for this instability is that the ICC voted (other members voted against CWI, which was then called WICB) to change the way international cricket makes money in 1997.
This meant that host boards kept all the money made by bilateral matches. When travel fees stopped, boards that looked after smaller populations, like those in the West Indies, lost a major source of income.
Since then, West Indies has had several financial crises. As part of a big financial reorganization announced by CWI last month, contracted international players will see their pay cut by 25%.”You heard the CEO talk about things that happened in 1997 that put us in this position,” Sammy said.
“But I think it’s important to understand what West Indies cricket means to the world and to the game, not just to the region. “I’ve heard stories about guys from past West Indies teams who spent three to four months touring, playing warm-up games, and spreading their talent through the way they played, the fans they gained, and the money they made for many people.
For me, it’s important because my mom always says you need to care. People should always care about others, no matter what they do in life. Today, I believe that West Indies cricket needs someone to put their arm around their shoulder. That is, in terms of money, and series like this one in India against the best team in the world brings us closer to that goal.
West Indies beat Sri Lanka in a T20I series at home before drawing this series in India. They also made it to the semi-finals of the 2026 T20 World Cup in India in March. “The guys in the locker room went out and played with intent, and I think it was good to see that the swagger and confidence are back,” Sammy said.
It began during the World Cup, and you could tell that the guys were having fun and wanted to win. Being sure that you fit where you are and putting on acts that show you do. That’s where it all begins. Right now, hopefully, it’s just been steady.”
