The final morning in Delhi carried an air of quiet certainty. India needed just 121 runs to seal another Test series win against the West Indies. Within an hour, they reached the target with ease. KL Rahul stayed unbeaten on 58.
Shubman Gill’s team completed a clean 2-0 sweep. This result marked India’s tenth straight Test win over the Caribbean side. It showed their continued dominance. Yet, what stood out after the match wasn’t the result but what followed next.
As reported by the BCCI, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir walked into the West Indies dressing room after Darren Sammy invited him. He didn’t talk about records or tactics. Instead, he spoke about character. Gambhir praised the West Indies players for showing humility and good behaviour both on and off the field.
He said world cricket depends on West Indian cricket, not the other way around. The Indian Head Coach reminded them that wearing the Test jersey brings pride and responsibility. His words showed respect that few coaches express after a one-sided contest.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav took 12 wickets, and Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round effort shaped the result. Even in defeat, the visitors showed spirit. John Campbell and Shai Hope scored fighting centuries after India forced them to follow on. Their efforts lifted the team to 390 in the second innings. Their fight impressed both teams. Gambhir appreciated that effort and added warmth to an otherwise clinical performance.
"I think for me, I think the most important thing I was telling Darren this as well, that the way you guys carry yourself on and off the field as well. I think it's a great learning experience the way you guys carry yourself off the field, your humility, your humbleness is something that my team and a lot of teams across the globe have to learn from. (0:56) I think being absolutely ruthless on the field, but away from the field, I think you guys are great role models," he said in a video shared by BCCI.
"I want to say one thing, and that is something which I've always believed in. You might feel that I'm saying it just for the heck of it, but this comes straight from the heart. West Indies cricket doesn't need world cricket. World cricket needs West Indies cricket. Remember that. World cricket needs West Indies cricket. And a good, solid test team, a test nation is a solid cricketing nation. It's not the other way around. So when you wear that jersey, remember, I think you've got the opportunity to do something special, which not a lot of players who play in the T20 format have," he added.
Focus shifts to Australia with renewed confidence
After the West Indies series, India now looks ahead to a tough tour of Australia. The series begins on October 19 in Perth. India will then play ODIs in Adelaide and Sydney. The T20 leg will follow in Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Gold Coast, and Brisbane. The tour will test India’s balance across formats and conditions. The team faces a busy calendar ahead.
Once the team returns home, India will host South Africa for a full series in November and December. They will then face New Zealand early next year. Later, the team will travel to England in July 2026 for five T20Is and three ODIs.
These tours give India a chance to keep momentum, test combinations, and build depth. The players now carry confidence into this stretch. The real challenge lies in staying consistent across formats. This upcoming phase will show how much progress the team has made under Gambhir’s guidance.
