It’s been almost a decade, but the memories of this Mumbai thriller are still vivid. With three needed off three balls, Andre Russell unleashed a huge shot over mid-wicket off a full toss from Virat Kohli, leaving the Wankhede Stadium in stunned silence. West Indies not only achieved a dramatic semi-final victory that day, but also ended India’s campaign in heartbreak.
After ten years, another chapter of this rivalry awaits Kolkata. India and West Indies find themselves in a similar high-stakes situation where it’s do or die for both sides. Notably, this will be the first meeting between the two teams in the T20 World Cup since the fateful encounter in 2016. West Indies have fond memories of the last time they faced India in such a valuable T20 World Cup encounter. (Photo by Reuters)
The wounds from that defeat still run deep and this time India will be eager to turn the tables in their Super 8 showdown on Sunday at the iconic Eden Gardens in the City of Joy.
INDIA AIM TO MAKE HISTORY
India’s woes against the West Indies in the T20 World Cup are long-standing and the Wankhede defeat was far from a one-off. Historically, the Caribbean side had India’s number and held a 3-1 lead over the 2024 champions. Memories of past clashes are still vivid.
In 2009, Dwayne Bravo’s blistering 66 with the bat and four wickets with the ball at Lord’s left India shell-shocked. The very next year, Chris Gayle tormented visitors with a 98-run masterclass in Bridgetown, Barbados. India have beaten West Indies only once in T20 World Cups. (Photo: PTI)
Then came 2016 when Lendl Simmons, Andre Russell and Johnson Charles ensured that India could not get the upper hand. The only respite for India in this saga came in 2014 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur where Amit Mishra came in with the ball before Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli hit fifties to lead India to a thrilling win with two balls to spare.
Clearly, India have rarely had it easy against the West Indies in World Cup matches. But in the ongoing T20 World Cup, the two sides are on a fairly even footing, with each of the six matches suffering one major defeat and winning the rest.
India are considered favorites in the upcoming game due to their familiarity with home conditions. However, West Indies’ explosive batting line-up means they cannot be underestimated by any stretch of the imagination.
CAN INDIA STOP WEST INDIES’ EDEN RUN?
West Indies may have lost four of their seven matches at the Eden Gardens, but Kolkata has always held a special charm for the Caribbean side. Notably, they have never lost a T20 World Cup match in the city and have won all three previous encounters.
They beat Scotland and Italy in that tournament, but memories of the 2016 final still linger – Unforgettable innings by Carlos Brathwaite who smashed four consecutive sixes from Ben Stokes to wrest victory from the jaws of defeat. Ian Bishop’s “Remember the Name” chants still ring out after that heroics, a testament to the magic of the Eden Gardens for the West Indies. Carlos Brathwaite: The hero who brought West Indies glory in 2016 at the Eden Gardens. (Photo: Reuters)
The Caribbean team has happy memories of playing at the iconic venue and will be looking forward to continuing their unbeaten run.
India, meanwhile, may not have had consistent success against the West Indies in T20 World Cups, but they have dominated the rivalry overall, winning 19 of the 29 matches they have completed. On paper, India boast a stronger team across all departments, but West Indies’ fearless approach with the bat means they can always turn the match on its head. The winner of the match in Kolkata will book their semi-final tickets. (Photo: PTI)
For India, the heart of 2016 is still burning. That memorable semi-final defeat can now serve as motivation as they look to return the favor and knock West Indies out of the competition.
With the energetic atmosphere of Kolkata and a team hungry to rewrite history, the stage is set for an exciting high-stakes clash where past memories meet current ambitions.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
28 Feb 2026 07:51 IST
