Indian team began the two-Test series against the West Indies in grand fashion in Dominica by winning the match by innings and 141 runs, showcasing the chasm of talent and abilities between the two teams.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and chose to bat first, but surprisingly the pitch prepared for the match was conducive to spin on which Indian spinners Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja ran through the Windies batting.
The hosts could only manage 150 runs with debutant Alick Athanaze top-scoring with 47, while Ravi Ashwin picked 5/60 in the match.
In reply, India posted 421/5d with debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring 171, captain Rohit Sharma making 103 and Virat Kohli hammering 76 runs.
And with the heavy defeat following on the heels of the team’s failure to qualify for the 50 overs World Cup earlier this month, Coley said how West Indies acquitted themselves going forward was now critical.
“West Indies brand is still a popular brand. The world enjoys when we play at our best,” he told a media huddle here.
“Yes, we have had some disappointments in the recent weeks and months but it is an opportunity for us to be better – review what has gone before and then just look ahead.”
He continued: “Belief in yourself as individuals and as a team is massive. Having a clear plan and sticking with it, that’s really going to be very important.
“And staying in the moment – as the game unfolds we’re going to be asked different questions and how we respond to the different situations is important.
“But at each stage, if we have clarity about how we want to go about things and then we back that completely while being smart, there is no reason why we can’t give a good account of ourselves.”
On a turning track at Windsor Park, West Indies were bossed by veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who claimed a 12-wicket match haul, and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja who picked up a five-wicket match haul, the home side plummeting to paltry totals of 150 and 130.
The haul carried the 36-year-old Ashwin to 486 Test wickets and within sight of the coveted 500-mark, where he would join Anil Kumble (619) as the only Indian to the milestone.
However, Coley said West Indies would not be focussed on personalities.
“Obviously, they have achieved a lot in the game in all the formats and it is going to be very important for us to play what we actually see,” he cautioned.
“We’re not going out there to play names. Milestones are important for everyone. We have players in our team as well who also have an opportunity to also create milestones for themselves.
“So it’s really about what happens in the moment and making sure that we’re confident and we have self-belief in how we want to go about things.”
West Indies have made a single change to their 13-man squad for the second Test, boosting their spin resources with the inclusion of the 23-year-old uncapped off-spinner Kevin Sinclair.
He replaces left-arm fast bowling all-rounder Raymon Reifer who has, however, remained with the squad as injury cover.