West Indies head coach Daren Sammy believes the upcoming three-match ODI series against India provides his team with an important opportunity to assess its progress in the format and build momentum ahead of next year’s ODI World Cup qualifiers.

The series begins on Sunday in Thiruvananthapuram, with West Indies also looking to end a 24-year wait for a bilateral ODI series victory in India.

Sammy acknowledged the significance of the challenge, particularly with West Indies preparing for the World Cup qualifiers after failing to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

“It’s been 24 years, we’ve not won a series here in India,” Sammy said ahead of the opening ODI.

He added that facing India in their own conditions would give West Indies a valuable indication of their ability to compete against leading teams.

Sammy Sees India Series as a Measure of West Indies’ Progress

For Sammy, the series is about more than simply the result. West Indies will use the three matches to test their ODI capabilities against India while giving several players an opportunity to establish themselves.

The head coach believes success against India would provide his squad with confidence ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, scheduled to take place early next year.

“If you have to win a major ICC event, especially in the white-ball format, you have to beat India,” Sammy said.

West Indies will therefore treat the series as an important part of their preparation before the qualifiers. The team needs to fine-tune its combinations and ensure it is ready to compete for one of the remaining places at the 2027 World Cup.

West Indies Miss Automatic World Cup Qualification

West Indies will enter the qualifiers after missing out on automatic qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Only the top eight teams in the qualification standings, apart from co-hosts South Africa, earn direct qualification. West Indies are currently 10th and cannot make up the deficit through the three ODIs against India alone.

It means the Caribbean side will have to navigate the qualification tournament for the third consecutive time.

Sammy, however, believes the team has made meaningful progress despite falling short of automatic qualification.

West Indies missed out by six points, a considerable improvement from the position they occupied previously, when the gap was around 19 or 20 points.

According to Sammy, that progress demonstrates that the team has moved closer to the required standard, even though the ultimate qualification target was not achieved.

Multiple Players Making Match-Winning Contributions

One of the more encouraging aspects for Sammy has been the number of players contributing significantly with the bat.

Shai Hope remains an important part of the West Indies ODI setup, but Sammy pointed out that the team is no longer relying solely on one or two players for major performances.

Several players have produced hundreds, including Amir Jangoo, while Sherfane Rutherford has also provided glimpses of his potential.

Sammy believes those contributions are signs of a developing ODI side and wants the India series to provide opportunities for more players to make their mark.

“We want to give everybody an opportunity in those three games,” he said.

That approach could be particularly important ahead of the qualifiers, where West Indies will need depth across their squad rather than dependence on a small group of established performers.

Alzarri Joseph Returns to Form

West Indies have also received an encouraging boost from fast bowler Alzarri Joseph.

Joseph has returned to bowling strongly and recently played a role in Antigua’s CPL title-winning campaign. His form gives West Indies another experienced pace option as they prepare to face India’s batting lineup.

With conditions in India expected to test the Caribbean side’s bowlers, Joseph’s effectiveness could be an important factor in the series.

Sammy highlighted his return as another positive development for the ODI team.

Vitel Lawes Emerges as a Wristspin Option

Another player to attract Sammy’s attention is 19-year-old wristspinner Vitel Lawes.

Lawes made his ODI debut against New Zealand in July and has already collected eight wickets in five matches. Sammy believes the youngster represents an important find for West Indies, particularly because he has been searching for a quality wristspinner for the national side.

“Vitel, to me, he’s a find for us,” Sammy said.

The teenager was brought into the ODI setup as part of a longer-term development plan and immediately made an impact on the bowling unit.

Sammy stressed that Lawes still has considerable development ahead of him, but the coaching staff intends to continue providing him with playing opportunities and specialised training.

Lawes has also worked with former West Indies players Nikita Miller and Ravi Rampaul during the current tour.

Focus Turns Towards the February Qualifiers

Although West Indies are eager to challenge India and end their long wait for a bilateral series win in the country, Sammy’s broader objective is to build a team capable of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup.

The qualifiers in February will be the team’s primary target after automatic qualification slipped away.

The three ODIs against India therefore offer an opportunity to test the squad under difficult conditions, assess emerging players and establish combinations before the more important qualification campaign.

For Sammy, performing strongly against India would provide a useful benchmark of where West Indies stand internationally.

The Caribbean side now has three ODIs in which to measure its progress, develop its younger players and prepare for the next stage of its World Cup journey.