West Indies captain Shai Hope has urged his team to embrace the challenge of facing India in their own conditions as the three-match ODI series begins at the Greenfield International Stadium on Sunday.
Hope described playing India at home as one of international cricket’s toughest tests and said the series would provide a strong measure of where West Indies stand as a team. He also stressed the importance of adapting to Indian conditions and detailed preparation, particularly for players touring the country for the first time.
Hope has an impressive record against India, scoring 988 runs in 26 ODIs at an average of 47, including three centuries and five fifties. His record in India is even stronger, with 741 runs at an average of 74.10 in 14 matches, including three centuries.
West Indies have not won an ODI series in India since 2002, but Hope said the long-standing statistic would motivate his side to change the narrative.
He also backed the team’s spinners, highlighting Roston Chase, Gudakesh Motie and Matthew Forde as important players during the tour.