Zimbabwe players (Image source: Zimbabwe Cricket)
NEW DELHI: Zimbabwe coach Justin Sammons expects a backlash from India when the two teams meet in a crucial T20 World Cup Super Eight match in Chennai on Thursday, warning that his players must be prepared for a similar onslaught that dismantled them on Monday.Go beyond boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Zimbabwe’s confidence took a huge hit after a crushing 107-run defeat by West Indies, who made 254/6 in the tournament. The devastating loss exposed Zimbabwe’s tactical shortcomings, but Sammons believes the painful experience could be of value as they prepare to face an Indian side hurt by their defeat to South Africa.
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“We know the way India will bowl out will be very similar to the way West Indies will approach their innings.
“They (India) are not going to back down,” Sammons said after the match.His warning comes as India arrive at the MA Chidambaram Stadium under pressure, desperate to stay alive in the tournament. Zimbabwe, despite being labeled as underdogs, remain determined to challenge one of the tournament favourites.He added: “There will be good lessons from that and how we deal with that, under pressure at the moment, how we stay calm and just think on our feet and also try to change things up a bit, disrupt the tempo.”
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Sammons admitted that Zimbabwe’s bowlers were too predictable against the West Indies, a flaw they must urgently fix to counter India’s explosive batting line-up led by Suryakumar Yadav.“…We can be a little smarter in that regard. Chennai will be a little bigger and will probably be more comfortable in that aspect there,” he said.Conditions in Chennai could play a decisive role. Traditionally known for helping slower bowlers, the relay deck behaved differently during this tournament, offering better speed and bounce. This could present a challenge for Zimbabwe’s pacesetters, such as Sikandar Raza and Blessing Muzarabane, who thrive on slower tracks.