IND vs WI ODIs | If you have to win a major ICC event, you have to beat India: Daren Sammy

Daren Sammy (Pic: X/@windiescricket)

Team India is set to lock horns with the West Indies in the three-match ODI series. The first match is set to be played on September 27 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

Ahead of the series, the West Indies' head coach Daren Sammy sees it as an opportunity to challenge themselves and see where the Caribbean side stands in the ODIs.

"It is 24 years since we have won a series here in India. So it is a great opportunity for us as a team to come out here and challenge ourselves and measure ourselves as to where we are in ODIs. And I think it is a great opportunity for us, the players that we have, to come and put in a good show against India and look to win a series, something we've not done in 24 years," he said.

The head coach then said a team needs to defeat the "Men in Blue" to win an ICC title in the white-ball format. He also said the West Indies' main focus is the qualifiers, which will help them secure a place in the ODI World Cup 2027.

"If you have to win a major ICC event, especially in the white-ball format, you have to beat India. And we are playing them here at home in their conditions, and performing well and winning gives us a fair idea as to what we could do as a team and how capable we are in competing on the world stage. Heading into the qualifiers in February, you know, that is our number one focus - continuing to fine-tune the team so that when we go to the qualifiers, we put ourselves in a position to book our ticket to South Africa," said Sammy.

The second clash is scheduled to be played on September 30 at the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The Maharaja Yadvindra Singh PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh will host the third clash on October 3.

IND vs WI ODIs: Full squads

India: Shubman Gill [C], Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul [VC], Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Naman Dhir.

West Indies: Justin Greaves, Roston Chase, John Campbell, Shai Hope (C) (WK), Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Ami Jangoo (WK), Keacy Carty, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Matthew Forde, Jewel Andrew (WK), Shamar Joseph, Vitel Orlando Lawes.

(With ANI Inputs)