When will WI reach the turning point?

The 2025 calendar year has been gloomier than usual for the West Indies team and its supporters. Fans have seen Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran retire, the lowest score by a West Indian team in test cricket, and, most recently, a series defeat against an associate team for the first time. Managerial and player decisions combined have hurt the West Indies in many ways, as the region currently has a battle on its hands to return to the top of the cricketing world sooner rather than later.

One of the main priorities right now for the West Indies would be reestablishing their status as an elite T20 international team with the World Cup on the horizon. In 2025 so far, the team have played 17 games, and from those 17 games, the winning percentage stands at less than 20%. With the just-concluded series against Nepal, the Windies awarded young talents and faded stars an opportunity to find form and gain international exposure against an associate nation. This quickly backfired as the Windies were humbled in a 2-1 series defeat against Nepal, just days away from their mammoth encounter against the cricket powerhouse, India.

Many questions were asked about the squad selection of the team headed to face the home dominant side India. The major concern being, that the squad was plauged with injuries of the main seam options. This then prompted replacements Johann Layne and Jediah Blades to be added to the squad despite their limited experience. This then caused further outrage as fans witnessed the blatant omission of veteran and West Indian legend Kemar Roach, who has claimed 284 wickets over the span of his International test career. Omission of the former captain and most successful west indies test batter in the last 10 years Kraigg Brathwaite, also made fans question the selection criteria of the West Indies team.

With this handicapped West Indies side going into the first game against India, it was almost certain in the minds of those in the world and region that the team would lose. The only question that floated in the air is how many days the tests would last. The first game was done in the blink of an eye as India bullied the West Indies team further into disgrace as they were deafeated by an innings and 140 runs. The Windies then proceeded to bat twice in the span of a combined 90 overs losing 20 wickets over this time period. This occurred while it seemed like the Indian team were batting on a different track. The runs for India were frequent and the wickets were few as they comfortably raced to and declared with 448 on the board.

The second game started in almost the same fashion for the Windies team. The Indians amassed a mammoth 518 runs with the loss of just 5 wickets, making the surface look like a batters paradise. Despite the hard time for the bowlers, though, the Windies put up a fight worth millions in the game. In the first innings we saw a collective effort from the team, which was still not enough as they were asked to follow on.

This then prompted a sense of disappointment which inspired the batters to bring a fight in the 2nd innings. John Campbell came to the party as he raised his bat for a 100 for the first time in his test career, and also became the first Windies opener since Wavell Hinds 23 years ago to score a test century in India. Shortly after it was Shai Hope who joined the 100's club once again after 8 years. It was the first time for him since his renowned double-tons against England in 2017 that he asserted his red ball dominance.

The fight also brought captain Roston Chase, Justin Greaves and fast bowler Jayden Seales to play important knocks to give the West Indies something to bowl at. The figure of 390 marked the highest score the Windies team gathered in the series. Though an accomplishment in itself, it was quickly extinguished as the Indian batters completed the chase early on day 4.

The West Indies team once again fell to another series defeat in test cricket. This too comes on the back of a 3-0 home defeat against Australia, which puts the Windies at the bottom of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship.

With this knowlegde do you think the West Indies can get the formula right to garnish a winning mentality amongst the team ,or will we see them lummet into further into the disaster?