West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has described the ongoing ODI tour of India as a "good gauge" of his team's standing in the format, even as the Caribbean side grapples with deep financial restructuring and a decade-long away-series drought.

West Indies have already lost the series, but Sammy, speaking in New Chandigarh ahead of the third ODI, said the experience of facing the top-ranked side in the world has provided a clear picture of what is required ahead of qualification for the 2027 World Cup.

"Every game against India is a massive event. I think before we started the series I said: 'It is a great opportunity for us to measure ourselves against the No.1 ranked team in the world'. I thought it has been a good gauge as to where we are in the context of ODI cricket," Sammy said. "What we have to do in order to compete to win against a top side. The pitches have been very good for our batters, but it has been really harsh on the bowlers, but it is a good gauge."

Financial pressures hang over the tour

The series has unfolded against a backdrop of significant upheaval at Cricket West Indies, which announced a 25 per cent reduction in retainer fees for international players as part of sweeping financial restructuring. The CWI chief executive described the cuts as "not ideal, but necessary."

Sammy was candid about the difficult environment, acknowledging the challenge of motivating a squad dealing with pay cuts.

"Look, that is not what you want to hear before a series," Sammy admitted. "But again, it is no secret to me, to you guys. I think, earlier this year when I was here for the Test series, we spoke about the financial situation of West Indies cricket. And I guess the administrators, the board, you still got to find a way to stay afloat."

He insisted there was no magic fix. "If you have a business that is not doing well financially, you have to find ways to sustain it," Sammy said. "Unless, I say 'Abracadabra!', then we get some big sum of money where we could entice our players to, you know, just let them know that everything is going to be okay financially. That is the situation we are facing."

Yet Sammy framed the tour as an opportunity rather than a burden, telling his players that performing against India carried its own rewards.

"I was a professional, I know what I told the guys. I said, 'There is no better time to play India. You win against the best team, you get some leverage, not only for the West Indies as a whole, but for you personally'," he said. "Performing against India always brings that extra incentive that could later down the road, incentives pay you back for your performance. So, we try our best to put that there, but it is not, it is a big, big mirror you can't escape, seeing the reflection of all the struggles."

Home fortress, away struggles

Since taking over as head coach in April 2025, Sammy has overseen a notable improvement in West Indies' home ODI record. From the start of 2014 until the end of 2023, West Indies won just four ODI series at home. They then went on to win three back-to-back between 2024 and 2025.

"What we've been able to do over the last two and a half years at home is make home a fortress," Sammy said.

Away from home, however, the numbers remain grim. West Indies have not beaten India in India since 2002 and have not defeated any Full Member side outside home since beating Afghanistan in India in 2019. Before that, their last such away win over a Full Member came against Bangladesh in 2011.

Against India, the batting has kept West Indies competitive, but the bowlers have struggled to contain a relentless Indian top order on lifeless pitches.

"Maybe we have not had the luck of bowling first, where you could bring whatever reverse swing or whatever there is in drier conditions. But yes, it has been a really bat-vs-bat contest, as Gautam said," Sammy quipped. "We need to continue to try to find ways to put the Indian batting under pressure by being a little bit more disciplined and consistent in our lines and lengths."

Gill and Rohit 'didn't really give a chance'

Sammy had high praise for Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, admitting the pair gave his bowlers little respite.

He did see positives in his own side's batting approach, but stressed the need to keep pushing the boundaries.

"The rotation of strike, the intent, especially against spin, these are the things, KPIs, that we tick. But if the surface dictates that you need 450, then I guess we've got to get 475, you know, and that's one of the challenges."

After watching Gill's onslaught and the nature of the pitches on offer, Sammy said there was "no excuse" for not scoring runs.

"I was telling the guys, 'When you get pitches like that, sometimes the team requires you to score 170, not just 100'," Sammy said. "Again, it was really tough for the bowlers and the captain played a really good knock. He has been batting extremely well, especially in these conditions here."

Shai Hope's form with the bat has been a bright spot, and Sammy was quick to acknowledge it.

Missed opportunity in Guwahati

Sammy also felt West Indies failed to capitalise on strong positions, particularly at the back end of the innings in Guwahati, where the team was cruising at 329 for 3 after 40 overs but finished on 405 for 7.

"When you find yourself in a good position on a good pitch, at 30 overs you should be able to double the score," Sammy said. "I think at 30 overs we were 230 odd, so you were looking at 450 or above, but the last 10 overs we only scored 70 odd runs. It is a time where you are supposed to accelerate a bit."

Before the tour enters its T20I leg, Sammy believes the team has a clear measure of its strengths and weaknesses in ODI cricket, given the ten-spot difference between the two sides in the ICC rankings.