Chase: A Benchmark Performance Paving Our Path to Progress

Despite losing the series 2-0 to India, the West Indies team displayed significant improvement in their performance in Delhi compared to Ahmedabad. Captain Roston Chase described this effort as a “stepping stone” for the Caribbean team to progress as a Test-playing nation.

“This is the kind of fight I wanted to see from us in previous matches. This performance is a stepping stone for us to improve as a Test-playing nation,” Chase stated.

On Day 3, despite being 270 runs behind, the West Indies showed determination by compelling India to chase a 121-run target and extending the game to Day 5. “This performance boosts our confidence and belief against top Test-playing nations. I hope the team continues this momentum and avoids reverting to old habits.”

Chase emphasized that even in defeat, retaining high morale can strengthen the team’s belief. “Victories are elusive, and this affects our enjoyment. However, finding joy in playing and supporting each other can propel our team forward.”

“We need to ensure that if we lose, we do so positively, extracting numerous positives from the game.”

In both Tests, the West Indies struggled to score heavily in their initial innings. They managed only 162 runs in Ahmedabad, but improved slightly in Delhi with 248 runs. Chase acknowledged the need for better batting performances in the first innings to secure more points in the World Test Championship.

“Our batting must improve—this has been our downfall in recent series. Once we achieve good first-inning scores, we stand a better chance of fighting for wins in the Test Championship.”

Chase has faced challenges early in his captaincy, losing his first five Tests against formidable opponents like Australia and India. The West Indies will end 2025 after facing New Zealand, with upcoming series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, where Chase expects competitiveness.

“This year’s fixtures against strong teams like Australia, India, and New Zealand are tough for us. However, by learning from these experiences, we can compete better against teams like Sri Lanka and Pakistan next year, which are closer to us in rankings.”

Chase lamented the short two-Test series, which didn’t afford his team the opportunity to build on their Delhi performance. “A short series means we can’t test our consistency from second innings learning.”

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir praised the West Indies for their resilience and determination in the second innings, highlighting the importance of West Indian cricket to the world. “The world needs West Indian cricket. Their fight was commendable and will surely boost their confidence despite their inexperience and team changes.”