Their ‘champion’ anthem, penned by captain Darren Sammy, ushered in the sheer revelry rushing through the side as they continued their fight against perceived adversity.
Board disputes over payments almost saw Sammy and his teammates withdraw from the tournament before a ball was bowled in India while they have since been branded “short of brains” by English cricket pundit Mark Nicholas.
It has left Sammy and his team hurt but among all the negativity from outside the camp it has only served to bring them closer together as the 2012 World Twenty20 champions look to regain the title by defeating England on Sunday.
“I think the pre-tournament shenanigans really brought us close together as a team. It feels like it’s us against everybody else,” said Sammy on the eve of the final.
“It’s a format that we’ve been consistent in but every year nobody gives us a chance. All these things brought this team closer together.”
In sub-continent conditions neither of the finalists was expected to reach this stage of the tournament, let alone both.
They have done so with a belief that flows through the veins of both squads and under the guise of “underdogs” at nearly every step.
And although many will still not see England as Goliath, Sammy is more than happy to play the role of David.
“We are always David, David is a winner,” said Sammy, drawing laughter from a packed press conference. “Even now I don’t think people give us a chance and I said Goliath was big and strong but David defeated him with a sling and one shot.
“It hurts all of us to see that a side that once dominated the arena, through a lack of proper management and structure and development has struggled over two decades.
“People just paint us as money grabbing cricketers because of our success in T20 cricket but yet they still don’t respect us in that format. Sometimes we get that from our own board.”
Sammy’s point is valid but one team who will respect the West Indies on Sunday is England who knows all too well how good their counterparts are.
England were thumped by a Chris Gayle inspired Windies in their first Super 10s match and the manner of that humbling will mean they will treat Sammy’s men with a great deal of care.
England have also talked up the inner belief blessing their charges, a notion that Sammy says is the main reason for the West Indies’ own run to the final.
“We, as a group, believe in each other, we enjoy each other’s success. Just thinking of us lifting up that cup tomorrow I could almost foresee what’s going to happen after,” added Sammy.
“But we have a cricket game to play first and England is a good side. Since we’ve beaten them they’ve played really, really good cricket, that’s why they’re in the finals. I always like cricket to be the winner but after cricket has taken all the praise I want West Indies to come out victorious.”
Maybe then the world will believe but for now it seems Sammy’s ‘champions’ are running on a fuel more aligned with doubt than success.
