New Delhi: Former India captain Anil Kumble believes that West Indies have proven that they have what it takes to win the T20 World Cup, while warning that India now faces a tough road to the semi-finals after a humiliating defeat at the hands of South Africa.
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West Indies defeated Zimbabwe by a dominant 107 runs, sending a strong message to their opponents with a stunning 254/6 before being bowled out for 147. The performance impressed Kumble, who said the Caribbean side showed a clear understanding of what it takes to succeed in the knockout stages.
“West Indies know what it takes to win at this stage of the game. The left-arm spinners are doing well. Gurdaksh Mooti bowls brilliantly. In this format, finger spinners often try to stay away from the batsman’s arc, but Mooti and Hussain are different,” Kumble said on JioHotstar.
He also singled out Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive 34-ball 85 as the turning point. “Simron Hetmyer has been a finisher for a long time and knows how to push boundaries. He has power and temperament. What stands out is that he doesn’t settle for quick cameos of 20 or 30. He converts them into respectable scores. If he had fallen for 30, maybe West Indies wouldn’t have reached 254,” Kumble explained.
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Kamble added that Roffman Powell’s orchestrated attack made the total even stronger. “Powell once again proved himself to be a power hitter. He took it slow at first, but once he settled down, he was unstoppable.”
Talking about India’s situation, Kamble admitted that the score and manner in which they lost to South Africa complicated matters. “Every game is important at this stage. India have suffered big losses…the key question now is whether they can bounce back strongly.”
He stressed that India must win resoundingly now. “India need to win convincingly, just like West Indies did… The main focus should be to win both games.”
