With Seetaram supporting Darren Sammy with crucial data inputs, West Indies is laying the groundwork to reclaim its past glories
In an era where data has become integral to the success of sports teams worldwide, West Indies cricket has found its secret weapon in performance analyst Avenash Seetaram. Darren Sammy, head coach of the West Indies white-ball team, has openly acknowledged the immense role Seetaram plays behind the scenes, elevating the team’s tactical acumen.
Speaking candidly in an interview with The Cricket Monthly, Sammy said, “Avenash is top quality. I’m not going anywhere and [to] no team without having him. He’s been the backbone of our planning.”
“I’ve made these comments before—back then we relied mainly on our natural talent and the knowledge you have as a captain. I promise you that had I and the West Indies team paid more attention to the data, we would have been so much better; I would have been a much better captain,” Sammy added.
These are powerful words from a man who captained West Indies to two T20 World Cup titles. Sammy’s admission that a data-driven approach would have transformed not only his leadership but also the performance of the team sheds light on the new dynamics in cricket.
Where intuition and raw talent once dominated, modern cricket now thrives on well-researched strategies, especially in the ever-evolving shorter formats.
“Now we sit down and we plan and we look at the footage, and Avenash does his research, and we come up with plans. The analyst now has become one of the most important people on staff when it comes to planning, strategising, and the tactical aspects of the game. So now I don’t only rely on my own knowledge of the game, I have the data to back up the thought process that I have, and how we present it to the guys,” Sammy elaborated on the role Seetaram plays.
Seetaram’s contributions are especially critical as West Indies cricket is in the midst of a transformative phase. Under Sammy’s leadership, the team has focused on building a solid foundation ahead of future global tournaments like the 2026 T20 World Cup. The integration of analytics into the team’s strategy has already borne fruit, with West Indies winning four out of their last five T20 series, including a clean sweep against South Africa.
Seetaram’s data-driven approach is pivotal for planning match strategies, assessing opposition weaknesses, and understanding conditions. For a team like West Indies, which is blessed with immense natural talent but has often lacked consistency, Seetaram’s work provides the much-needed structure.
With key members like Seetaram supporting Sammy and a growing emphasis on data analytics, the West Indies is laying the groundwork to reclaim its past glories in international cricket. Having former stars like Carl Hooper and James Franklin joining the coaching setup also adds to the wealth of knowledge that is shaping this new-look team.
The future of West Indies cricket may be unpredictable, but with a strong backbone in its analytical team led by Seetaram, the Caribbean side looks well-prepared to script a revival on the global stage.
