Despite the odd triumph, such as ICC Twenty20 (T20) World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016, West Indies cricket has been mostly in depressing decline since 1995.

Over the last eight to nine months that decline became a lived, wide-awake nightmare for the Caribbean cricket fraternity.

Let’s remember that last October the West Indies white-ball team, led by Mr Nicholas Pooran and guided by Head Coach Mr Phil Simmons, shockingly exited the T20 World Cup at the qualifying stage — soundly beaten by the likes of Scotland and Ireland.

While Test series defeats away from home against powerful Australia and higher-ranked South Africa were fully expected, the margins — especially against Australia — were depressing, adding significantly to the overall gloom.

A West Indies T20 squad, led by new Captain Mr Rovman Powell, did beat hosts South Africa 2-1 in a three-match series to lighten that gloom.

Then came the unthinkable. In June/July this year, West Indies — twice winners of the 50-over World Cup back in the glory days — missed out on a place at the upcoming ICC (50-over-per-side) World Cup after losing to Zimbabwe, Netherlands, and Scotland.

Back in the Caribbean, the West Indies Test match side — as was expected — lost 0-1 to number one ranked India in a two-Test series and 1-2 in the subsequent One Day International (ODI) series.

Those results meant the hosts entered the just-ended five-match T20 series against the Indians in Trinidad, Guyana and the United States low on confidence and with expectations among their supporters next to zero.

This was not the strongest Indian T20 squad, since veteran champion batters Messrs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had been rested.

However, the well-resourced Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), with an eye to the future, had named a star-studded squad, including the brightest young talent available to them.

Against that backdrop, it came as a surprise when West Indies rushed into a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20 series — albeit by nail-biting margins.

“There we go again” was the popular sentiment when the Indians fought back to level the series with dominant victories.

Mr Powell and his men entered Sunday’s final game under extreme pressure — having faltering so badly after taking a commanding series lead.

To their eternal credit they fought like tigers to comfortably defeat India by eight wickets and take the series 3-2.

Mr Powell credits the management team, including Head Coach Mr Daren Sammy and chairman of selectors Mr Desmond Haynes, for their counselling and advice which prevented panic and helped to ensure focused attention to the task.

Also, the players deserve high praise for countering the ongoing talk in diverse quarters that they are somehow lacking in commitment and pride.

Importantly, this T20 series victory must be a platform as West Indies and USA prepare to host the next T20 World Cup in mid-2024.

Beyond that, all should understand that success will not be sustained if the many, much-talked-about resource, development, and governance shortcomings in regional cricket are not addressed as a matter of the greatest urgency.