West Indies wary of the India challenge, says Hope
Skipper Shai Hope delved into the big task on offer as the West Indies play India in a three-ODI series.
The last time West Indies beat India in a bilateral ODI series was back in 2006, when they emerged victorious by a 4-1 margin at home.
In their meetings since, India have dominated against the side, having won all 12 bilateral series that have followed. It’s a track record the team are well aware of as they prepare for the upcoming three-match ODI series starting Sunday, September 27.
"We always say we haven't beaten this team in 20 years or 15-plus years,” skipper Shai Hope said ahead of the series opener in Thiruvananthapuram.
“You can talk about not automatically qualifying for the World Cup, but certainly some of the strides that we make as a team are definitely commendable.
“Whenever you come to India and you want to play against the best team, win against the best team. So, it will definitely be an added motivation.
“We know it's going to be a tough uphill battle, but we're looking forward to this one."
The Windies, currently ranked 10th in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, will be unable to secure an early ticket for next year’s ICC Men's Cricket World Cup as the cycle for automatic qualification comes to an end after the second ODI against India.
In front of the visitors are the runners-up from the previous edition of the tournament and the reigning ICC Champions Trophy winners.
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"Playing India in their backyard is always a challenge, and it's one that we definitely need to grasp and embrace," Hope conceded.
“Playing anyone in their home conditions will always be challenging. But it's something that we always look forward to.
"When you're playing international cricket, you want to play against the best. When they are playing in their home conditions, you get the real test. So, we're definitely looking forward to it, and it's going to be an exciting one for us."
The Windies are arriving on the tour on the back of a 1-1 ICC World Test Championship series draw at home against Pakistan. In their last ODI series, the team had come up short by a 3-2 margin in the five-match home series against New Zealand.
Adapting to the sub-continental conditions adds another layer to what is already a sizeable task, but Hope is optimistic his side can rise up to the occasion.
"I pride myself a lot on trying to be the best that I can be," he said. "And, one of those things is that you have to be able to adapt.
“Adaptability in different conditions and playing against different opposition. It's not always going to work out. We know it's a professional sport.
“Every day is not going to be your day. But, I really try to focus on the fine details to give myself the best chance to score runs.
“Here in India, you've got to play differently than when you go to Australia or England. Even back in the Caribbean.”
The ODI series between India and West Indies kickstarts on Sunday, September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram.
Series opener
1st ODI - 27 September, Thiruvananthapuram
2nd ODI - 30 September, Guwahati
3rd ODI - 3 October, New Chandigarh
1st T20I - 6 October, Lucknow
2nd T20I - 9 October, Ranchi
3rd T20I - 11 October, Indore
4th T20I - 14 October, Hyderabad
5th T20I - 17 October, Bengaluru