West Indies working on middle-overs batting, coach Floyd Reifer says

West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer said on the eve of the second ODI against India in Guwahati on September 29, 2026, that the side was working to improve its middle-overs batting, particularly against spin. He added that there remained considerable ground to cover.

Reifer outlined a target to regain the side’s earlier middle-overs scoring rate, citing the need for greater consistency. “The aim is to get back to 2024 and 2025, where we scored at more than six runs an over in the middle overs. But it’s a work in progress. Guys have improved batting against spin, but there is a long way to go,” he said.

On pitch conditions and technique, Reifer stressed adaptation to slower, turning surfaces. “When you play on slow, turning pitches in different parts of the world, guys have to make adjustments. Wickets will fall on those types of surfaces. But batting in the middle overs is something that we continue to work on. We want to get really consistent with that,” he said.

Reifer also addressed fielding standards after a costly miss in the opening match of the series. The West Indies dropped Shubman Gill on 11 in the first ODI, and Gill went on to score 110 in that game.

He framed fielding as a matter of attitude and concentration, urging his team to seize chances against strong opponents. “Fielding is an attitude. You got to be up for it. You’re playing against the No. 1 team in the world on good pitches and fast outfields... it’s important to take your chances. You can’t afford to drop players like Gill, Rohit [Sharma], and [Virat] Kohli. We’ve really emphasised the importance of staying focused on the field and bringing the right attitude”, Reifer said.

The comments were made to the media and published on September 29, 2026 at 10:58 pm IST from Guwahati, ahead of West Indies’ second One-Day International against India in the city.