From the perspective of the current series, it remains one of consequence as the final game on Tuesday in Trinidad will be the decider.

But for the West Indies, the six-wicket victory over India in Bridgetown on Saturday could be much more than just a series-levelling win.

Ever since their failure to qualify for the Super 12 stage of last year's T20 World Cup in Australia, Windies cricket has been all about disappointment and dejection. The continual abject surrender culminated with their failure to qualify for the 50-over World Cup for the first time in the history of the competition.

Amid this lowest period cricket in the Caribbean is going through, the emphatic win by the Shai Hope-led side — also their first over India in the ODI format since December 2019 — should help Windies cricket breathe a little easy for the time being. It should provide at least a little bit of oxygen to Windies cricket, which many feared was dying.

Yes, the Windies did beat South Africa away in a T20I series back in March. But the Proteas too are not quite the force they used to be. Agreed, India too had rested two of their stalwarts — regular skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — for Saturday's game. But that said, the overall quality and experience in the Indian batting and bowling groups that took the field on Saturday still trumped that in the current Windies team.

Barring captain Hope and to an extent pacer Alzarri Joseph and opener Kyle Mayers, others lack that experience.

Yet, the effort put in by the likes of pacer Romario Shepherd and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie with the ball first up on a helpful track and the temperament of young Keacy Carty later during the unbroken 91-run stand with skipper Hope, who marshalled his troops quite well, would inspire revival hopes. India will still be the favourites for Tuesday's decider and more so, if both Rohit and Kohli return to the XI.

But what could be a shot in the arm for the Windies is their attitude, which will again be pivotal to their chances in the final ODI. "We displayed the right attitude and need to replicate that in all disciplines." Hope couldn't have been better with his analysis.