Sammy optimistic ahead of T20 series decider

West Indies have not beaten India in India in a series of any format since 2002, but will have a chance to break that losing streak during the series-deciding fifth T20 International between the two sides on Saturday.

The high-scoring series is locked at two games apiece, and any thoughts of final preparations were dashed on Friday, when heavy rain in Bengaluru prevented both teams from practising.

Ahead of the game, West Indies captain Shai Hope has so far scored a series-leading 261 runs, with his teammate Sherfane Rutherford second on the list at 221. India’s Shreyas Iyer is a distant third on 159 runs.

Among the bowlers, India’s Kuldeep Yadav leads the table with seven scalps, ahead of West Indies pacer Jayden Seales with four and Prasidh Krishna with three.

Neither team has won consecutive games during the T20 series and, unlike during the last two games, dew is likely to play a significant role in Saturday’s decider, therefore suggesting that the team winning the toss will likely elect to bowl.

The potential environmental impact on the series has not been lost on West Indies head coach Daren Sammy.

“I think when you come to India (or) you watch the IPL, this is the type of surface on which the guys are accustomed to playing. Lucky for us, we have guys who have experience playing here.

“It’s been tough on bowlers, but I thought in the last two games, with no dew around, it became a slightly more even contest than where the dew played such a big factor.”

Despite the major impact dew has made when present during the latter stages of the match-ups, Sammy still believes the team that executes its plans better on the day has been the team which went on to win.

He pointed to his team’s bowling in the middle overs of the games as a key factor in keeping all four games so far competitive.

“The guys we use in the middle, I think the clear plans that we’ve had and bowling to them, all the games we’ve been able to pull it back after the power play.

“With the field spread, guys are a little bit more precise in their execution (and) that’s been the key for us staying in the series,” Sammy revealed.

According to Sammy, even before the outcome of tomorrow’s game, the series can be deemed as somewhat of a success for West Indies.

“In spite of all the challenges that we faced, if we could come here and compete against the best team in the world, the defending champions, then we tick boxes that keep us in the conversation.

“Before the series started, we all know about the pay cuts and everything that happened. West Indies are doing well, and they continue to be a team that brings entertainment to the world when we are doing well.”

Sammy also believes the West Indies performances so far offer hope ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.

“What I’ve seen in this series will give the guys a lot of confidence.

“I did say it was a way to measure where we’re at, and I think the way we’ve played, we’ve sent a strong message.

“If we could be consistent, the players that we have in the dressing room, they go out there and they give their all. When they do that, we could compete and win games against anybody in the world.”
(KH)