Due to financial problems, Cricket West Indies is cutting player salaries and suspending domestic tournaments

For the West Indies, the upcoming three-match series in one-day format against India is not just another bilateral tournament. The head coach of the team, Daren Sammy, views this visit as a serious test for the squad ahead of the One Day World Cup qualifiers next year. Furthermore, the team aims to end the 24-year period without victories in bilateral series in India.

The first match of the series is scheduled for Sunday, the 27th, and will take place in Thiruvananthapuram. Before the game, Sammy emphasized that playing in India will give the team an opportunity to assess its standing in the ODI format. The West Indies have not won any bilateral series in India for the past twenty-four years. Sammy noted that the team has a great chance to demonstrate itself and defeat India.

The West Indies could not directly qualify for the top-8 teams in the 2027 ODI World Cup, as only they and South Africa guarantee themselves a spot. Currently, the West Indies are ranked tenth. Even a confident victory over India does not guarantee them a change in their current position. Consequently, the team will have to fight for a spot in the tournament through qualifiers for the third consecutive time.

In Sammy's opinion, to succeed in a major international tournament, especially in the baseball format, it is crucial to win against India. He believes that a loss to the Indian team on home soil will give the West Indies an idea of how competitive they can be on the world stage. Sammy named the February qualifier as the team's main priority, and the series against India will serve as an opportunity for continuous improvement and squad preparation, which will help secure a spot in the qualification, perhaps via South Africa.

Sammy also sees positive trends in the team's development. He stated that success is no longer dependent on one or two players, but various athletes contribute to victories. Although he admitted that the West Indies did not receive an automatic invitation, the team has significantly improved its situation compared to the previous period. Previously, the team lagged by 19-20 points, and now it is only six points away from automatic qualification, which, according to Sammy, indicates progress.

Key contributors to the team include Shy Hope, as well as Amir Jangu, who scored one hundred runs, and Sherfen Radford, whose performance was noted. Sammy mentioned that the team was looking for this form in the 2024-25 season. Alzari Joseph also returned to good bowling form, helping recently win the CPL Antig title. This is why Sammy plans to give every player a chance in the three matches against India.

The coach also highly praised the performance of 19-year-old left-arm spinner Vitil Lodge. He debuted in an ODI against New Zealand in July and took eight wickets in five matches. Sammy called Vitil a discovery for the West Indies. According to him, the decision to debut against New Zealand was part of a pre-planned strategy. Sammy had long expressed the need for a wrist spinner in the squad, and Vitil influenced the bowling unit immediately after his appearance. Nevertheless, Sammy understands that Vitil still has a long way to go in his development. The team will continue to work on his development, providing him with special training alongside matches. During the tour, he interacted well with Nikita Miller and Ravi Rampal. Sammy noted that Vitil was promoted slightly faster than planned, but his results are currently pleasing the team.

First ODI: September 27, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram.
Second ODI: September 30, 2026, in Guwahati.
Third ODI: October 3, 2026, in Chandigarh.
First T20: October 6, 2026, in Lucknow.
Second T20: October 9, 2026, in Ranchi.
Third T20: October 11, 2026, in Indore.
Fourth T20: October 14, 2026, in Hyderabad.
Fifth T20: October 17, 2026, in Bangalore.

There was a time when major Bollywood stars avoided television appearances for fear of diminishing their star status. However, the situation has changed. Celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan have started working as hosts on the small screen. Soon, television embraced these big stars, transforming TV from a threat to their popularity into a powerful means of increasing it.

A new trend is now observed that threatens the positions of actors. Producers have made a big bet by shifting focus from actors and comedians to cricketers, assigning them hosting duties. Where previously the leadership of the show rested on the shoulders of major actors or comedians, the focus is now shifted to the cricket pitch. Many sports stars have moved to television and started hosting programs.

Famous personalities like Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, and Shikhar Dhawan demonstrate their abilities as hosts. They, who used to hit the ball on the field, are now taking responsibility for entertaining, surprising, and amusing the audience in front of the camera.

Rohit Sharma, a former captain of India, debuted as a television host in the show 'Family Full House With Rohit Sharma Show', becoming the host. Viewers consider watching Rohit in this role a real pleasure. His characteristic is a calm and relaxed nature; if he aggressively attacked bowlers on the field, on TV he completely entertains the audience.

Virender Sehwag, known as the king of one-liners, has started a new chapter in his career by becoming the host of the mainstream reality show Rise and Fall 2. Before this, he had already participated as a host in the web series 'Viru Ke Funde'. Sehwag's fearlessness, wit, and one-liners guarantee entertainment for viewers.

After conquering the field, Sourav Ganguly, known as 'Dada', has also established his influence among the television audience. He hosted quiz and game shows 'Dadagiri Unlimited', and now hosts Big Boss Bangla. His journey shows that a cricketer can entertain people not only on the field but also in front of the camera, if they can adapt their personality for a hosting role.

Harbhajan Singh hosted the show 'Bhajji Ke Saath Punjabiyan Di Dadagiri'. Additionally, he appeared as a gang leader in Rodigs Rising Season 14. Harbhajan Singh participated as a host/promoter in the wrestling-based reality show 'Ring Ka King'. Harbhajan possesses a strong Punjabi style and an ability to fully entertain, and his comedic remarks are very vivid.

Shikhar Dhawan has always been entertainment-oriented. His 'Gabbar' persona manifests in both the television and digital space after cricket. He added a twist to the sports comedy format by appearing in the show Cricket Darbar alongside RJ Kishna. He later appeared in the show Battleground as a judge. Shikhar Dhawan's energy is his main trait.

The main reason for handing over the direction of television shows to cricketers is their huge fan base. Who would refuse to watch a cricketer whose shots caused excitement in the stadium? Turning a big star into the face of the show is the biggest advertising asset. Cricketers do not need to spend months building their identity on TV; they come with a large audience immediately after the show launches.

In India, cricket is revered as a religion. The popularity of outstanding players can be utilized in reality shows. The popularity of cricketers is not limited to youth; fans are people of all ages.

Another important reason is that everyone wants to see something new. Actors and comedians have been seen many times. However, handing over the direction of shows to cricketers presents an interesting turn. Cricketers do not often display their personality. People know about them mainly through the cricket pitch and social media. In this case, a TV hosting role is an ideal way to attract viewers.

A player on the field has their own image. But when the same player becomes a host of a reality show, viewers see their off-field personality, which sparks curiosity. A cricketer can provide viewers with substantial material by talking about old matches, conflicts, and behind-the-scenes stories from the dressing room.

September 11 marks an important date in the history of Indian cricket: 115 years ago, in 1911, Lala Amarnath was born, the first centre batsman for the Indian team. Amarnath became not just an athlete, but a significant figure who left a deep mark on the culture and system of Indian cricket, being involved in it as a player, bowler, captain, selector, coach, and commentator.

Lala Amarnath, born into a modest family in Lahore, demonstrated his talent in 1933-34, scoring 109 runs for the South Punjab team against MCC. Shortly after, he got the opportunity to play in India's first home Test match against England at the Jimkhana ground in Bombay. Despite India's difficult situation, Amarnath managed to counter the attacks of the English bowlers, completing a century in 117 minutes and becoming the first player to score a centre in international cricket for India, although the team ultimately lost.

In 1936, during a tour of England, Lala Amarnath was one of the most influential players in the Indian squad. However, a dispute arose with the team captain, Maharaja Kumar from Vijnagaram, known as 'Viji'. Following this incident, Amarnath was sent back to India mid-tour, which seriously affected his Test career, forcing him to step away from it for about 12 years. Nevertheless, his domestic performances continued, and in 1938-39, he scored an impressive 241 runs for the Hinduja team against The Rest.

Lala Amarnath's return was not limited to batting. In 1946, during a visit to England, he made a splash in a match at Lord's, dismissing players such as Len Hutton, Cyril Washbrook, Dennis Compton, and Wally Hammond in England's first innings. A specialty of his bowling was the ability to bring the ball inside with precise length, allowing him to play a useful role both with the bat and with the ball for the Indian side.

In 1947, Lala Amarnath was appointed captain of the first Australian touring Indian team after the departure of Vijay Merchant. The Australian team under Don Bradman was very strong, and India faced serious difficulties in five Test matches. Although his personal Test performances did not meet expectations, he performed brilliantly against regional teams, notably his innings of 228 runs against Victoria was noted by the great Australian player Neil Harvey.

In the 1952-53 season, Lala Amarnath once again led India, and this time the opponent was Pakistan. This was the first official Test series between the two countries, which India won, creating a historic moment. Nevertheless, Amarnath's relationship with Indian cricket politics remained complicated; due to disagreements with the then influential council officials, he faced problems regarding leadership and team decisions.

Throughout his career, Lala Amarnath played 24 Test matches, scoring 878 runs at an average of 24.38. In Tests, he scored 1 centre and 4 half-centuries. Regarding bowling, he took 45 wickets at an average of 32.91. In total across 186 first-class matches, he scored 10426 runs and took 463 wickets.

Although Lala Amarnath's sporting career concluded, his contribution to Indian cricket remains significant. He became a selector, and his name is particularly associated with the decision to give a chance to spinner Jaswant Patel in the Kanpur match against Australia in 1959-60. Patel secured a historic victory for India through his outstanding bowling. His family also continued the cricketing tradition: his sons Surinder Amarnath and Mohinder Amarnath represented India. Surinder also scored a centre in his debut Test match, and Mohinder played 69 Test and 85 ODI matches.

Lala Amarnath was characterized by his straightforward nature and ability to openly express his opinion. His contemporary Mushtaq Ali vividly described his personality. Given his contribution to Indian cricket, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called him an 'icon'.