Old jibes fuel new vigour in Windies

Much like 2018, 2006 was a year before the cricket world cup.

12 years ago, on a tour to the Caribbean islands, the then India coach Greg Chappell had committed one of his many faux pas - when he had announced out aloud that 'West Indies have forgotten how to win' after India had chased down a 255-run target comfortably in Kingston. He may have drawn references from his playing days but it was an uncalled-for jibe.

As Brian Lara, the then West Indian skipper, put it: "It spurred us on." The Indian team that had recorded a 17-match successful chasing streak with the win in the first ODI, lost the next four games, and with it, the streak and the series.

Chappell aside, India back then was still a unit that was coming of age and not in a luxury to take digs at opposition. Today, however, they are strong and mighty. For the current unit, modesty takes a back seat and narcissism is not frowned upon. However, for all their overpowering self-validation, they have rarely been disrespectful of the opposition.

Windies, on this tour, have been brought down by fans and experts. They have been beaten and bullied as much by their current standing as they have been by the legacy of their past. Up against India, they were unlikely to find any validation. Not in person, not on social media. Not at home, not in India. Surely not if they were seeking an honest opinion.

For all their limitations and deflated morale, Windies needed a reason to 'spur them on'. For a young bunch of cricketers with limited reputation, the criticism has worked just fine.

Stuart Law, Windies coach, had said ahead of the third ODI, "I've listened to commentary, I've listened to numerous talk shows, talking about the match-up between West Indies and India and not too many people have given us a chance of competing in this series. But that's fuel to fire our boys. They like being written out of the contest, and it gives an opportunity to go out and play good cricket."

The bad word always seems to lift Windies up. Remember Tony Greig's iconic 'grovel' statement? In their own testified version, it spurred them on, and spurred them in such a manner that for almost two decades, they let go of no one. Just in case, it was too far back in history to recall, what about Marlon Samuels' leg-up-the-table, Warne-has-a-fake-face comeback after winning the 2016 World T20. They don't seem to forget the hard comments and respond only after the job is done. And that's one aspect of their history they haven't let go off.

Since the tied game in Visakhapatnam, Windies have come to believe they have a realistic chance of winning the series. A part of the reason was that they were able to notch up two 300-plus scores in the first two games. Even in defeat, they realised they had put up a decent front. And a series-levelling victory in Pune has only tuned them in better to the narrative of, 'the players want to focus on winning the series.' They are playing it around, they are playing it aloud.

While this talk could have been laughed off easily only a week ago, they pose a serious threat to embarrass India with only the last two games remaining. All the glamour, attention and interviews have been frozen for now. Ashley Nurse said after Windies' win in Pune: "No one gave us a chance but I think we're showing the public out here that we're here to play. We're not really worried about the talk, so it's just good to see the boys play consistent cricket and giving India a run for their money."

As of now, they are only one win away in two games to ensure that they don't lose the series. And if it gets any better for them, they will be in with a chance of shutting their critics; the victims being, on both occasions of their spurred-on-moment, the Indian cricket team.

Much like 2006, Windies are again threatening to end one of India's successful streaks. In the last three years, New Zeland have tried unsuccessfully twice, so have Australia, England and Sri Lanka to press their might on India, but in vain. In fact, in the last six years, only South Africa have beaten India at home. Beyond simply winning the series, Jason Holder and his young troop are in with a chance of achieving something extraordinary.

And then maybe, someone can just pull off a paper that reads - 'Let's talk, nah!'