West Indies captain Shai Hope has described facing India on home soil as one of international cricket's toughest assignments, urging his squad to treat the challenge as an opportunity when the three-match ODI series opens at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, 28 September 2026.

Hope Sets the Tone Ahead of Series Opener

'Playing India in their backyard is always a challenge. It's one that we definitely need to grasp and embrace. It's a great indicator for us to see where we are as a team. When you're playing international cricket, you want to play against the best in their home conditions — that's where you get the real test. We're definitely looking forward to it, and it's going to be an exciting one for us,' Hope told reporters at a pre-match press conference on Friday.

The 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has personally thrived in Indian conditions. In 14 ODIs on Indian soil, Hope has amassed a remarkable 741 runs at an astonishing average of 74.10, including three centuries and three half-centuries. Overall against India in 26 ODIs, he has scored 988 runs at an average of 47, with three tons and five fifties to his name.

A Different Game on Indian Pitches

Hope emphasised that touring India demands a fundamentally different mindset compared to playing in Australia or the Caribbean. 'Playing in India requires a completely different approach compared to Australia or back home in the Caribbean. It's about being very critical with your training and preparation. That's something I constantly emphasise in team meetings, especially for the guys who haven't toured here before,' he said.

He also stressed personal accountability in his preparation. 'I pride myself a lot on trying to be the best I can be. You have to adapt to different conditions and opponents. Every day isn't going to be your day, but I focus on the fine details to give myself the best chance,' he added.

Breaking a 24-Year Wait

West Indies have not won an ODI series on Indian soil since 2002 — a 24-year drought that Hope acknowledged but reframed as fuel rather than burden. 'The harsh reality is that almost every series we go into, these statistics are brought up — that we haven't beaten a team in 15 or 20 years. It definitely adds motivation. We know it's going to be a tough battle, but we want to change that script,' the skipper said.

Spinners Expected to Lead the Attack

Hope expressed confidence in his side's spin resources, highlighting the experienced duo of Roston Chase and Gudakesh Motie alongside emerging young left-arm wrist-spinner Vitel Lawes. 'Roston and Motie have played quite a few games and made significant impacts for us over the last few years. Lawes has already shown what he's capable of at this level, and I expect him to keep growing. He can be a huge asset for us going forward, and we'll certainly be leaning on our spinners heavily during this tour,' Hope said.

The pitch at the Greenfield International Stadium is historically spin-friendly, which could make the West Indies' bowling strategy a decisive factor. With the series serving as a key form indicator ahead of the ICC cycle, both sides will be eager to assert themselves from the first ball on Sunday.