KOLKATA: Now it’s a straight knock-out contest and there’s no need to crunch numbers over pure run-rate. India need to beat West Indies at the Eden Gardens on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. The West Indies are the same, but the punters would advise you to put your money on India. You’ll still have your fingers crossed.Statisticians may still be called upon to do the calculations in the unlikely scenario of Zimbabwe beating South Africa, but that will still decide the group winners. South Africa is also way ahead in this race. India’s attack against South Africa was a timely reminder that Suryakumar Yadav and his men need to be on their toes at all times. In fact, South Africa also showed that West Indies, despite their recent successes, continue the streak of inconsistency that makes them so unpredictable. This Caribbean tendency will also keep India on its toes. One wrong step can make a huge difference.
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Abhishek Sharma’s return to form against Zimbabwe was good news for India, even if the opening match was not as loose as usual. Occasional caution during his half-century suggested that doubts may have crept into his mind after a string of poor scores. Even Tilak Varma would overcome some insecurities during his 16-ball 44 against the same opponents. Both will be aware that the West Indies will present tougher challenges.With Varma struggling against spin, facing the likes of Roston Chase, Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein could be tricky. India could continue with the left-right opening combination of Abhishek and Sanju Samson, although the latter did not make the most of the opportunity against Zimbabwe. This combination helps in throwing opposing pitchers out of their lineup.Talking about the bowlers, Jaspreet Bumrah will again be the pace to watch. As soon as he steps onto the Eden pitch, he will be reminded of his 5 for 27 in the South Africa Test last October. Despite the drought on the field, Bumrah’s spell may well be the deciding factor. Bumrah has been very economical in the tournament so far, giving away just 90 runs in five matches. His accuracy has been one of India’s biggest assets.Of course, West Indies have batsmen who can prove problematic for India. Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford would need some time to settle and may prove to be threats. Skipper Hope is quite atypical as a Caribbean bat. His shots are much more orthodox and his aggression is calculated. He is able to shape his innings according to the situation, a quality that may be required at Eden.They also have a long batting line-up, with Jason Holder and Romero Shephard producing brilliant innings against South Africa at No.7 and No.9. West Indies are a cohesive bunch this time and their players reiterated that they are enjoying the atmosphere in the dressing room. They played two matches here during the tournament.
