KOLKATA: It is a straight knockout competition now and there is no longer any need to crunch numbers on net run rate. India only has to defeat West Indies at Eden Gardens here on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.
West Indies are in the same position but punters advise you to put your money in India. However, fingers will remain crossed.Statisticians may still have to do the math in the unlikely scenario of Zimbabwe beating South Africa, but that will only come down to determining who wins the group. South Africa is far ahead in this race as well. India’s defeat to South Africa was a timely reminder that Suryakumar Yadav and his men have to be on their toes at all times.
Indeed, South Africa also showed that the West Indies, despite their recent successes, still suffer from a series of inconsistencies that make them unpredictable.
This Caribbean trend would also keep India on its toes. One wrong move can make a big difference.
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Abhishek Sharma’s return to form against Zimbabwe was good news for India, even though the opening match was not as smooth as usual. The occasional warning during his half-century suggests doubts may have crept into his mind after a string of poor results.
Even Tilak Varma would have overcome some doubts during his 16-ball 44 against the same opponents. Both are aware that the West Indies will pose tougher challenges.
Given Varma’s struggles against spin, facing the likes of Ruston Chase, Jodakish Moti and Akhil Hossain could be tough. India may still play with the left-handed opener of Abhishek and Sanju Samson, although the latter did not really make the most of his opportunity against Zimbabwe.
This combination helps keep opposing bowlers off their line.Talking about bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah will once again be the player to watch. As soon as he steps on the Eden turf, he will be reminded of his 5 for 27 in the South Africa Test here last October. Despite the dryness of the pitch, Bumrah’s spell could be a deciding factor. Bumrah has been very economical in the tournament so far, conceding just 90 runs in five matches.
Its accuracy was one of India’s biggest advantages.
Naturally, West Indies have batsmen who can be troublesome for India. Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope and Shirvan Rutherford will need a little time to settle in and could develop into a threat. Skipper Hope is quite uncharacteristic as a Caribbean hitter. His shots are more traditional and his aggression is calculated. He is able to mold his roles depending on the situation, a quality that may be needed in Eden.They also have a long batting line-up, with Jason Holder and Romero Sheppard having impressive innings against South Africa as they finished seventh and ninth. West Indies are tight-lipped this time and their players have reiterated that they are enjoying the dressing room atmosphere. They played two matches here during the tournament.