Chanderpaul: Why India Tour Boosted West Indies Confidence
Former West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul has said the team's strong showing against India in the white-ball tour, which included ODIs and T20Is, should give the squad confidence that it can win away from home. According to reports of his remarks to PTI in Bengaluru, he hopes that belief now carries over into Test cricket.
What Chanderpaul said
Reports of the interview say Chanderpaul sees the tour as proof that the current players can compete in Indian conditions. He described red-ball cricket as the next challenge, pointing out that the Test side has won only a few recent matches, against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Caribbean. He still sees promise in the group and believes it could win any match if it comes together.
He also spoke about players leaving central contracts for T20 franchise cricket. Chanderpaul said Test cricket can still sustain itself because some players continue to want to play it, and called it the ultimate challenge.
His view of Shai Hope
Chanderpaul praised captain Shai Hope for leading from the front. As quoted in the reports, Hope had scored 278 ODI runs and 261 T20I runs on the tour. Chanderpaul said Hope now bats with more freedom and confidence, and credited his years of batting in Guyana, on tricky pitches and against spin, for his game.
Hope's recent form fits that picture. According to a report published on 15 October, he made two hundreds in the ODI leg and a century in the second T20I in Ranchi. In the fourth T20I in Hyderabad he scored an unbeaten 102 off 50 balls with nine sixes, as West Indies won by 24 runs to level the series. It was his third Player of the Match award of the tour, and he joked that he might have to pay for extra luggage to carry them home.
What about India's tactics?
A Times of India headline reported that Nayar suggested India should change tactics against Hope. We could only confirm the headline, not the full piece, so we are not repeating details of the suggestion. Nayar is a former India assistant coach, and he has previously commented on how Hope batted through the powerplay against India in a T20 World Cup match. Please read the original report for exactly what was said.
Our analysis
This is interpretation, not reporting. Chanderpaul's comments suggest the main question is no longer whether West Indies can compete in white-ball cricket in India, but whether that belief can survive in the longer format. White-ball results and Test results depend on different skills, so a confident T20I and ODI group may not automatically translate to a stronger Test side.
His praise of Hope could also be read as a reminder that West Indies cricket relies heavily on a few experienced batters. If Hope's form drops, the team may find it harder to sustain the momentum Chanderpaul is talking about.
Key facts
- Chanderpaul spoke to PTI in Bengaluru, and the remarks were published around 17 October 2026.
- He said the white-ball tour should boost West Indies' confidence for Test cricket.
- He cited Hope's 278 ODI runs and 261 T20I runs.
- West Indies won the fourth T20I in Hyderabad by 24 runs, with Hope scoring 102 not out.
- The series decider was scheduled for 17 October in Bengaluru. Please check an official source for the result.
FAQ
What did Chanderpaul say about the India tour?
He said the strong white-ball showing should give West Indies confidence that they can win away from home, and that this should carry into Test cricket.
Why did Chanderpaul praise Shai Hope?
He said Hope leads from the front and bats with more freedom now, and linked that to Hope's experience on difficult pitches in Guyana.
Did West Indies win the series?
Reports we checked only confirm that the series was level before the decider on 17 October. Please check the official scorecard for the final result.
Sources and related reports
- Chanderpaul: West Indies can win anywhere after India showing — Kashmir Observer (PTI)
- West Indies' Hope jokes India series record role a problem as finale looms — Al Jazeera
- West Indies' India tour a huge confidence booster: Chanderpaul — Rediff
- Windies' Hope worried about excess baggage after landing another Player of the Match award — Reuters
- 'India need to get Shai Hope out': Nayar suggests change in tactics against Windies skipper — The Times of India (headline only checked)
Written with AI assistance and then reviewed and corrected against the reports linked above. Based on information available at 19 Oct 2026, 01:30 PM IST; details may change. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will correct it. See our editorial policy.
About the author
Virall Editorial Team — Virall explains what India is searching for, using publicly reported sources. Articles are drafted with AI assistance and automatically fact-checked against the cited reports.