West Indies captain Shai Hope has acknowledged the immense challenge of touring India as his squad prepares to face the host nation in the opening match of a three-game ODI series in Thiruvananthapuram. Arriving in India ranked tenth globally, the West Indies are set to confront a powerhouse that has dominated bilateral cricket against them for two decades. Hope’s squad blends seasoned campaigners like Roston Chase and Alzarri Joseph with promising debutants experiencing their first tour of the Indian subcontinent.
As the teams prepare for the highly anticipated opener, Hope reflected on the daunting task ahead. The West Indies have struggled to find success against India, failing to secure a bilateral series victory in twenty years, with their last triumph on Indian soil dating back 24 years. Despite the team’s historical struggles, Hope has emerged as a beacon of consistency since the start of 2025, amassing 869 runs at an impressive average of 51.11—the highest aggregate for any West Indies batsman in the format during this timeframe.
“Playing India in their backyard is always a challenge, and it’s one that we definitely need to grasp and embrace. When you come here, you expect the best of the best. It’s a great indicator for us to see where we are as a team. Playing anyone in their home conditions will always be challenging. But it’s something that we always look forward to,” said Hope as quoted by Cricinfo.
“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,” he added.
Adapting to Indian conditions
Despite the team’s overall struggles, Hope boasts a formidable personal record on Indian soil. Having featured in 11 ODIs in the country, he has compiled 512 runs, including two fifties and two centuries, at a stellar average of 56.88. This wealth of experience provides a crucial advantage, setting him apart from several squad members who are visiting the subcontinent for the first time. Hope emphasized that adapting to local conditions is key, noting that success in India demands a distinct tactical approach compared to other cricketing regions.
“I pride myself a lot on trying to be the best that I can be. 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,” said Hope.
“It’s just about being very critical of the way you go about your training and preparation. That’s something I always try to put out there in team rooms whenever we have our chats and discussions. Just try to pay close attention to detail and the way we go about preparing and analysing the opposition and the conditions that we play in,” he added.
Building experience for younger players
Hope remains optimistic about the younger contingent in the squad, viewing the tour as an invaluable learning opportunity. While the West Indies have faced consistency issues in recent times—securing only six victories in 22 ODIs since the beginning of 2025—the captain believes that high-stakes competition against India will accelerate the growth of his inexperienced players. Exposure to such a formidable opponent, he argues, is the fastest way to foster development and build resilience.
“It’s a very exciting time I would say for these players. Maybe I’m speaking out of turn, but I think I can speak on their behalf. Whenever you come to India, it’s one tour you look forward to coming to play. When I was younger in my career as well, it was a tour I was expecting a lot from myself. I wanted to see where I was at,” said Hope.
“Looking at the group that we have now, a few of the guys haven’t been in India, haven’t played in these conditions before. I look at it as an exciting time. We want to win all the time. We want to make sure we get the best results from a team perspective. But, for me personally as a leader, I want to see progression. I want to see how fast we can adapt against the best in the world and how we can compete. And if we find ourselves at a crucial moment in the game, if we can grasp that, then I think we’ll find ourselves going in the right direction,” he added.
Hope is fully aware of the daunting statistical realities facing the West Indies but remains determined to break the long-standing cycle of defeat. The team’s failure to automatically qualify for the 2027 ODI World Cup adds a layer of urgency and motivation to the upcoming series. With West Indies scheduled to compete in the ICC qualification tournament early next year, every match serves as a crucial benchmark for their global standing.
“The harsh reality is almost every series that we go into, those stats are always at the top of the list. We always say we haven’t beaten this team in 20 years or 15-plus years. 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 added motivation. We know it’s going to be a tough uphill battle, but we’re looking forward to this one,” said Hope.
