The West Indies on the verge of yet another series defeat to India

Since 2019, the West Indies have faced the full quota of 50 overs on only 6 out of thirty-nine occasions. 

The first ODI between West Indies and India was only their seventh such occasion. 

But even that culminated in a defeat. 

And it was a painful one at that; the hosts lost by just three runs. 

It was, once again, a case of being so near and yet, ending so far. 

With Romario Shepherd and Akeal Hosein’s efforts in getting the team over the line ending in vain, you were compelled to question something one can no longer avoid: 

When are the West Indies going to improve their ODI record over India?

Perhaps many of us cricket obsessed, social media adoring, habitually tweeting cricket opinion makers haven’t quite realised the bitter truth surrounding the Windies’ record against India. 

It’s neither anything worth noting or creating a shout about. Nor is it something any Windies talent- whether current or developing- would accept gleefully. 

From the onset of 2018, the West Indies haven’t managed to defeat India in an ODI series. 

That very year, the Windies arrived in India for a limited overs series and immediately found their reputation challenged in the sub-continent. 

Barring Shai Hope’s then classy 123* off 134 deliveries at Vizag on October 24, 2018 (second ODI) and Hetmyer and Pollard hitting powerful runs on occasions in the T20I series that followed, there wasn’t much that the visitors were able to do in India.

And ever since then, the West Indies have only found their image gobsmacked by a team much more capable and irrefutably consistent in the fifty over format. 

A year later after the Windies capitulated in India, their tormentors traveled to the Caribbean for a three match ODI series that was followed by as many T20I’s.  

Many would’ve thought that a different result would be attained. 

Instead that was never to be the case. 

West Indies lack big names

For that series, Windies recalled Narine. Lewis seemed strong up the order. Pollard was still around back then. And names like Carlos Brathwaite were still very much part of the white-ball unit.  

Except there was no relief as India hung out the Windies to dry beating them convincingly in every single T20I and the two ODI’s after the opening game was washed out. 

To a side that may seem to be lacking the depth of experience today, back then, it still had the resourcefulness of experienced campaigners. 

But today’s Windies lacks it all: big names, their enormous power and perhaps even the desire to win. 

 But the bitter defeat that seemed much like the pill that’s hard to swallow, underlined a few problem areas for the side currently led by Nicholas Pooran.  

Is Shai Hope really in form? What would’ve happened had he put bat to ball and scored a few instead eating up one dot ball too many? 

Is Rovman Powell, now the vice captain, truly in depth with his role; how can the deputy of the side perish playing one wild shot too many? Is his role not about holding fort and negotiating difficult periods? Does he actually realise that the slog hitting, usually effective in the IPL, is over and that he’s got to command more respect with respect to his talent than he does?

2022, well and truly speaking, hasn’t quite been the year the West Indies would’ve liked

They began the year by losing an ODI series to Ireland of all teams; the defeat in the third and final contest marking a dark day in Caribbean cricket. 

The Windies do not have the usual redoubtable power of Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer anymore, two of the key lynchpins of their white ball cricket. 

Hope, despite his famous century in Pakistan, which came at the back of a thumping Netherlands hundred, isn’t really in dominant touch. 

Kyle Mayers is learning and is yet to fully mature into his role of the accomplished marksman in limited overs format. 

Barring the painfully slow albeit much needed 73 versus Bangladesh, there’s nothing that Pooran the batsman has done to aid his embattled Windies side. 

Want more? 

Who’s the most compelling bowler in the one day side besides Hosein and now, Motie? 

It’s not like the West Indies are facing some seemingly unsolvable puzzle. As always, they are, as a matter of factly, up against the biggest hindrance to their cricketing resurgence: their own selves and their insufficiencies. 

To play smart cricket, purpose-driven cricket akin to the much needed 117 run stand between Mayers and Brooks at Trinidad is what the team needs. 

What it certainly doesn’t are episodes like offering easy wickets despite being in a strong, nearly winnable position. 

Can that change in the second game of the series? If it doesn’t- remember Windies will slip to another series defeat in the 50-over format.