A nightmarish Test series and a thumping defeat in the first ODI later, West Indies finally found their mojo in the second ODI in Vizag. Now, as Dwayne Bravo leads his team to the deciding match of the series in Kanpur, he wants his team to feed off the confidence of that win and take the series.
“Winning the last game gave us the confidence and the belief that we can actually beat India in India,” Bravo said on the eve of the match. From our point of view, we just focused on improving on our previous performances and try to play together as a team more consistently. In the last five encounters we’ve had with India in ODIs, we’ve won two and lost three.
“So, tomorrow’s game will be very important to get even and of course to win the series,” said the West Indies captain, adding it will take special performance from his team to overcome the Indians in two consecutive matches at home.
“Before the last match we had a very good team meeting – it was very interactive and thorough. In all meetings we formulate our plans but never really execute them on the field, which we did well the other day. I will remind the guys of the good things we did in that match and encourage them to repeat them tomorrow.
“The Indian team will come back hard after the hurtful loss and since it’s a day game, it will be very hot and humid. It’s not going to be easy but I will keep reminding the team of the importance of beating the No. 1 team in the world,” Bravo said.
While the visitors’ batting performance in the second match was a huge improvement upon their previous matches on this tour, one trend continued. None of the WIndies batsmen went on to play a big innings after getting to their fifties. For Bravo it is not a concern as long as the fifties help the team win.
“It is good that they are getting starts; some of us aren’t even getting them. It is good for us as a team that some guys are getting fifties and building partnerships to put the team in winning situation. Rather than one person scoring a hundred and we losing the match, if four or five half-centuries can win us matches, I will take that any day.”
However, Bravo did say that he wants his batsmen to take a cue from their Indian counterparts when it comes to being hungry for runs.
I encourage the young West Indies batsmen to learn from the Indian batsmen, particularly inculcate their appetite for runs. I want guys like Darren Bravo, Kieron Powell and Johnson Charles to learn from the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan,” he said.
One of the half-centurions and the Man of the Match in Vizag was Darren Sammy, whose place in the side has always been under scrutiny. For Bravo, Sammy is a match-winner and he will continue to support the all-rounder.
“The talks are on in the media and outside the team that Sammy shouldn’t be part of the team but for us he is a big part of our team. As the captain, he is a very important player for me, especially with the likes of Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle out.
“He is a main player in our side and will be an asset as long as he plays. If he is out of form, it’s important for us as a team to give him all the support and continue to encourage him because he is a match-winner on his day. He showed that in the last game. He also brings in a positive vibe in the dressing room and I would always want someone like him around at all times,” Bravo said of the West Indies Test captain.
Lastly, Bravo said that the spinners will play a crucial role in the last ODI. “I am happy to have two good spinners at my disposal in Sunil Narine and Veerasammy Permaul in the Indian conditions. Tomorrow, it being a day game, they will play an even bigger role.”
