West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has challenged his side to end a 24-year bilateral ODI series drought in India as they begin preparation for the 2027 World Cup qualifiers. The three-match series against the top-ranked Indian team starts in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, serving as a benchmark for a squad that missed automatic qualification for the next global tournament.
The West Indies finished the recent qualification cycle six points short of the automatic cutoff. This result requires the team to compete in a global qualifier in February 2027 to secure a place in the tournament in South Africa. Sammy is using the matches against India to gauge the progress of his developing squad.
“It’s been 24 years, we’ve not won a series here in India. So it’s a great opportunity for us as a team to come out here and challenge ourselves and measure ourselves as to where we are in ODIs,” Sammy said.
The series involves a transition in Indian leadership. Shubman Gill will captain the side despite the inclusion of veteran players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The selection confirms a long-term strategy for the 2027 World Cup cycle while maintaining the presence of senior players in the squad.
West Indies made late adjustments to their roster ahead of the opener at the Greenfield International Stadium. Ackeem Auguste is unavailable as he continues rehabilitation following surgery, with 19-year-old Jewel Andrew named as his replacement.
Sammy noted that the technical priority remains refining the squad’s roles before the February qualifiers. “Heading into the qualifiers in February, our number one focus is continuing to fine-tune the team so that when we go to the qualifiers, we put ourselves in a position to book our ticket to South Africa,” he stated.
The historical statistics favor the hosts; West Indies has not secured a bilateral ODI series win on Indian soil since 2002. Following the match in Thiruvananthapuram, the series continues in Guwahati on September 30 and concludes at the stadium in New Chandigarh on October 3.
