- “Success is progress” for Sammy as the West Indies impress “despite challenges”. The head coach believes his team has done well to challenge India and has “ticked boxes that keep us in the conversation”. “Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023. I think there is room for improvement here,” said substitute Towhid Hridoy after Bangladesh were eliminated from the UAE ODI tri-series. Rashid Khan took four wickets to beat Bangladesh by 160, Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Tri-Series, Sharjah, October 21, 2026. Janith Liyanage celebrates with her teammates after hitting six to win the game on the penultimate ball. Janith Liyanage celebrates with her teammates after hitting six to win the game on the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026. India A will play a three-match, four-match series against New Zealand A alongside the Indian A team’s white-ball games against New Zealand. Shikhar Mohan scores half-century for Jharkhand, Vidarbha vs Jharkhand, Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Day 1, Nagpur, October 25, 2025 SA vs Australia, 2nd Test 2026-27 – Pat Cummins – Australia cannot ‘get over the cracks’ after a loss. Innings Australia must seriously consider making changes to its batting line-up for the crucial Test in Ce Town. Steven Smith out against Kagiso Rabada, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 5, October 22, 2026. Darren Sammy talks about the keys to success against India and the positives for WI from a very competitive series so far. “Success is progress” for the West Indies under head coach Daren Sammy, and as the series hangs in the balance and they head into the final game of their India tour, the added context is a source of satisfaction.
- “What success means to us may be different to the audience,” Sammy said.
- “But for us as a group, it is the first time in 20 years that we have won more than two games on a tour of India [against India].
“Success is progress” for Sammy as the West Indies impress “despite challenges”. The head coach believes his team has done well to challenge India and has “ticked boxes that keep us in the conversation”. “Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023. I think there is room for improvement here,” said substitute Towhid Hridoy after Bangladesh were eliminated from the UAE ODI tri-series. Rashid Khan took four wickets to beat Bangladesh by 160, Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Tri-Series, Sharjah, October 21, 2026. Janith Liyanage celebrates with her teammates after hitting six to win the game on the penultimate ball. Janith Liyanage celebrates with her teammates after hitting six to win the game on the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026. India A will play a three-match, four-match series against New Zealand A alongside the Indian A team’s white-ball games against New Zealand. Shikhar Mohan scores half-century for Jharkhand, Vidarbha vs Jharkhand, Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Day 1, Nagpur, October 25, 2025 SA vs Australia, 2nd Test 2026-27 – Pat Cummins – Australia cannot ‘get over the cracks’ after a loss. Innings Australia must seriously consider making changes to its batting line-up for the crucial Test in Ce Town. Steven Smith out against Kagiso Rabada, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 5, October 22, 2026. Darren Sammy talks about the keys to success against India and the positives for WI from a very competitive series so far. “Success is progress” for the West Indies under head coach Daren Sammy, and as the series hangs in the balance and they head into the final game of their India tour, the added context is a source of satisfaction.
“What success means to us may be different to the audience,” Sammy said. “But for us as a group, it is the first time in 20 years that we have won more than two games on a tour of India [against India]. So for us, success is progress.
If, despite all the challenges we face, we could come here and play against the best team in the world, the defending champions, we would tick boxes that would keep us in the conversation [that’s progress]. They lost the Guwahati ODI after scoring 405 but recovered from 352 in the final game of the series. In the five-match T20I series, they chased 250 after losing the first game and defended 247 in the fourth T20I and now go into the decider in Bengaluru at 2-2.
“Before the show started we all knew about the pay cuts and everything that came with it. The West Indies are doing well and we continue to be a team that brings entertainment to the world when we are doing well and that is not because of that but in spite of all the challenges we face. “The batters were the headliners of this T20I series. Both teams’ average run rate in four games is over 11 and while the weather will have an impact on how Saturday’s game goes at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, if it continues, the batters will be greeted by another flat surface.
It rained constantly in the days leading up to the T20I. The West Indies skipped a training session the day before the match, while India had to cancel the training session due to rain. Bengaluru has excellent drainage and play can begin 30 minutes after the rain stops.
However, if it starts raining mid-game, it becomes more difficult to get players back on the ground. The flat surfaces of these round white balls didn’t surprise Sammy. “I think when you come to India,” Sammy said, “you look at the IPL, that’s the type of surface guys usually play on.”
Luckily we have people who have experience here. “It’s been tough on bowlers. But I thought the last two games without Tau were a bit more even.
If you look at the last two games where dew was not a factor, the bowlers still had a chance in the match. Therefore, I think good dew wickets represent a more balanced competition where skills can be used, as we have seen in this series. “This series decider will also be West Indies’ eighth white-ball game in 20 days. The team traveled through India.
“The physical demands of traveling – it’s eight different cities,” Sammy said. “I think probably only India has that luxury and every city brings a different challenge during the tour here and India is a place we love to visit. The fans are crazy about cricket, you play in front of a full stadium every time, you understand and see different parts of the country.
“For us as coaches, as a group and as a medical and fitness group, [our goal] is to manage the players. It was a long tour, you play every other day, we talked about that, but it was wonderful and the fact that we made cricket really competitive is good for the crowd. The people of the Caribbean want the West Indies to prosper, which lifts everyone’s spirits.
This was box office television and we hope we have the opportunity to pull back the curtain on a great tour and series tomorrow. T20I, Hyderabad, October 14, 2026 Darren Sammy talks about the keys to success against India and the positives for WI from what has been a very competitive series so far. Story: Story: 1558766+ IND vs WI 5th T20I – Success is progress for Sammy as West Indies impress ‘despite challenges’ | in the conversation” The head coach believes his team has done a good job in challenging India and has “ticked boxes that keep us in the conversation”.
