Daren Sammy says West Indies matched defending champions after 2-2 T20I draw

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy said his side had taken a massive step forward after drawing the five-match T20I series 2-2 against India following the rain-affected fifth match in Bengaluru on October 17, 2026. The final game was called off after 7.4 overs with India on 118 for 5 in a nine-over shootout.

Sammy said the players showed they could compete with the reigning T20 world champions and outplay them in certain areas on their home ground. He added that the renewed swagger and belief in the dressing room had been visible since the T20 World Cup and needed to be maintained through consistent performances.

Sammy also called for greater financial support for West Indies cricket, saying series like this against the best team in the world put the region back in the conversation. Captain Shai Hope finished as Player of the Series with 261 runs in four innings, including two centuries.