Shai Hope doesn’t get enough credit for contribution to West Indies: coach Daren Sammy

Shai Hope scored an unbeaten 162 for West Indies against India. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

West Indies coach Daren Sammy paid rich compliments to his skipper Shai Hope for carrying the team on his back to beat India in the final ODI here on Saturday. 

With regular opener Jewel Andrews unable to bat after injuring his finger while fielding, Hope, who donned the gloves for 50 overs, had to open the innings and carried his bat through, slamming an unbeaten 162.

“He was in the field for what, 98.2 overs. He literally took the team on his back today with the bat, like he’s done so many times before. The skipper stepping up is not anything new to him, but to keep 50 overs and then put on your pads and go and play an innings like that was special,” said Sammy, 

“We came here knowing the quality that India has and to measure ourselves against a team like that. We showed that when we do things consistently well for long enough, we could match the number one team in the world. We will take a lot of learning from this.”

ALSO READ: Hope’s inspirational hundred sees Windies chase down 352

Sammy, a two-time T20 World Cup-winning skipper, was also impressed by Hope’s leadership and felt the latter has always led by example.

“He doesn’t really say much. But when he speaks, he’s quite clear as to what he’s expecting from himself and from the group.”

“As I said, he leads by his performance. He believes in that. Like today, somebody had to go up and open, and when I said to him [to open], he didn’t say a word. He just put on his pads, went out, and won us the game. I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he’s done for West Indies, how he’s played, and the commitment he’s given us. Class player, great individual,” remarked Sammy.

Commenting on the match, the coach was also happy that the team’s batters have shown tremendous improvement in key areas they had identified.

“Even with a batter short, we knew what we’ve been talking in the dressing room about: batsmen scoring hundreds and batting deep. Putting on partnerships, not losing wickets in clusters. Once we did that, we had a very strong chance of winning. It’s such a tough place to defend. You’ve got to be confident that whatever the opposition gets on the surface, you can get it too,” said Sammy,