KOLKATA: It’s a simple knockout game now, no more number-crunching on net run-rate. India only needs to beat West Indies at the Eden Gardens on Sunday to reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals. West Indies are in the same situation but punters will advise you to put your money on India. Yet people still pray.
In the unlikely event that Zimbabwe defeats South Africa, the statisticians may still be asked to do the calculations, but this will only determine the top spot in the group. South Africa is also far ahead in this race. India’s defeat against South Africa was a timely reminder that Suryakumar Yadav and his men must always be on their toes. In fact, South Africa also showed that the West Indies, despite their recent success, still have some instability that makes them so unpredictable. This Caribbean trend will also keep India on its toes. One wrong step can make a huge difference.
Abhishek Sharma’s return to form against Zimbabwe was good news for India, although the opener wasn’t as free-spirited as he usually is. The occasional caution during his half-centuries suggests that doubts may have crept into his mind after a string of poor results. Even Tilak Varma would have overcome some uncertainty in his 16-ball 44 against the same opponents. Both sides will realize that the West Indies will pose a tougher challenge.
Given Varma’s struggles with spin, facing the likes of Roston Chase, Gurdakshi Mothy and Akhil Hussain could be tricky. India will likely continue with the left-right opening combination of Abhishek and Sanju Samson, although the latter didn’t really make the most of the opportunity against Zimbabwe. This combination really helps throw the opposition bowlers off the line.
Talking about the bowlers, Jaspreet Bumrah will once again be the pacer to watch out for. As soon as he steps onto the Eden Turf, he will be reminded of his 5 for 27 in the South Africa Test match last October. Despite the dry pitch, Bumrah’s performance is likely to be the deciding factor. Bumrah has been very frugal in the tournament so far, conceding just 90 runs in five games. His accuracy is one of India’s biggest strengths.
Of course, the West Indies batsmen could cause problems for India. Shimron Heitmyer, Shay Hope and Shervan Rutherford will need a little time to settle in and could emerge as threats. As a Caribbean batsman, Skipper Hope is quite atypical. His shooting is more orthodox, and his aggression is calculated. His ability to adjust his innings according to the situation is a quality Eden may need.
Their batting line-up is long too, with Jason Holder and Romero Sheppard playing brilliant games against South Africa at No. 7 and No. 9. West Indies are a cohesive team this time around and their players have repeatedly stressed that they enjoy the atmosphere in the dressing room. They played two games here during the tournament.
