The match between India and West Indies in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup on Sunday (March 1) evening at the historic Eden Garden in Kolkata has become a knockout match. Whichever team wins, its path to the semi-finals will be almost clear, while for the losing team, the tournament may be on the verge of ending.
The Indian team’s practice session 24 hours before the match looked very serious and focused. The players remained busy in their preparations at different nets. Akshar Patel batted on the balls of Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar, while Ishan Kishan faced Mohammed Siraj. Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakraborty were seen practicing separately.
“The important thing is that we focus on ourselves and play in the same style that has got us here. There are only quality teams left in the tournament now,” assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said in a press conference.
West Indies have experience of playing on this ground. He has already played two matches here and is familiar with the conditions. In the 2016 T20 World Cup, they defeated India in the semi-finals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and later won the title. Under the leadership of Darren Sammy, the captain of that team, West Indies had achieved the target of 193 runs and eliminated India.
In the current Indian team, only Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are left from that match. The coaching staff hopes that experienced players will play an important role in this pressure match. There has been strong sunshine in Kolkata for the last few days. There is a possibility of dew in the evening, which may make bowling challenging in the second innings. The pitch showed light grassiness and dryness. According to curator Sujan Mukherjee, this could be a batting-friendly wicket, where a score around 220 is also possible.
If this happens, then West Indies, adorned with aggressive batsmen like Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd, can prove to be dangerous. Given India’s weakness against finger spin, Windies may consider including Roston Chase in the playing eleven.
Probable Playing XI
India probable XI: Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Varun Chakraborty, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.
West Indies Probable XI: Brandon King, Shai Hope (captain and wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Matthew Ford, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Moti.
Eden Gardens is a small ground, where the margins are very thin. The team which will assess the conditions better and remain calm under pressure will be able to take the lead in this ‘Virtual Quarterfinal’.
For India, this is not just a match but the threshold of the semi-finals. Whereas West Indies, which is considering this ground as its second home, is standing as the biggest obstacle in India’s path. This match to be held from 7 pm on Sunday can prove to be one of the most exciting clashes of the tournament.
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