Zimbabwe players (Image: Zimbabwe Cricket) NEW DELHI: Zimbabwe coach Justin Sammons expects an aggressive response from India when the two sides meet in a crucial World T20 Super Eight match in Chennai on Thursday, warning that his players must be ready for a similar onslaught that dismantled them on Monday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Zimbabwe’s confidence took a major hit after a crushing 107-run defeat by the West Indies, who amassed a tournament-defining 254/6. The heavy loss exposed Zimbabwe’s tactical shortcomings but Sammons believes the painful experience could be valuable as they prepare to face an Indian side hurt by their own defeat in South Africa.
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“We know how India will go and it will be very similar to the way West Indies approached the innings. They (India) will not hold back,” 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.“We’ll take a good lesson from that and how we deal with it under pressure at the moment, how to stay calm and think on our feet and also just try to change things up a bit, disrupt the batsmen’s rhythm,” he added.
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Sammons admitted that Zimbabwe’s bowlers were too predictable against the West Indies, a mistake they urgently need to rectify to face India’s explosive batting led by Suryakumar Yadav.“…we can be a little bit smarter about that. Chennai will be a little bit bigger (by land) and probably a little bit quieter about that,” he said.Conditions in Chennai could play a decisive role. Traditionally known for assisting slower bowlers, the folded surface behaved differently during this tournament, offering better pace and bounce. This could be a challenge for Zimbabwean pace specialists like Sikandar Raza and Blessing Muzarabani who thrive on slow tracks.
