West Indies captain Shai Hope says India tour must be grasped and embraced

Shai Hope, captain of the West Indies, told reporters at a press conference at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on September 26, 2026, that playing India at home is a challenge his team must accept. The comments came ahead of the first ODI in the series between India and the West Indies, which begins on Sunday, September 26, 2026.

Hope acknowledged that West Indies cricket has struggled in recent times but said he remained optimistic about the squad’s prospects and about contributions from newer players. He said individual performances in recent series had given the side reason for encouragement and stressed the need to build on those displays across multiple series rather than in isolated matches.

“We see great sparks in different series and from different people,” Hope said. “It is about repeating that, trying to get those performances for a longer duration, rather than one or two games. We have to try to extend that for two, three, four series. Consistency is the biggest thing for us.”

The captain singled out the left-arm spinner Vitel Lawes as a player with considerable upside. “I expect him to grow as a left-arm spinner for us,” the captain said.

A photograph by Nirmal Harindran accompanied coverage of Hope’s press conference at Greenfield International Stadium, held on the day the series opened. Hope reiterated the squad’s approach to the tour during his media availability at the venue.

The first One-Day International of the India–West Indies series is scheduled for Sunday, September 26, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram.