The Indian men’s cricket team bounced back in style with a big win over Zimbabwe to revive their semifinal hopes in the 2026 T20 World Cup earlier this week. Now, they face a much stronger opponent in West
Indies, with a place in the semifinals at stake. Both India and West Indies have suffered defeats to South Africa, while scoring in excess of 250 against Zimbabwe, setting up this mouthwatering Group 1 Super 8 finale to be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.
The winner of this clash will advance to the last-four stage, for which South Africa and England have already punched their tickets. India began the tournament strongly, but despite their unbeaten run into the Super 8 stage, there were concerns about the team not firing on all cylinders. Critics sharpened their knives following a humbling defeat to South Africa, which triggered changes in the batting order and playing XI.
For the Zimbabwe clash, India broke the troika of three left-handed batters at the top by inserting Sanju Samson as the opening partner to Abhishek Sharma, while pushing Ishan Kishan back to No. 3. The move paid dividends, with a breezy cameo from Samson, though he failed to convert his start into something substantial.
Abhishek showed form with a relatively patient fifty, while Tilak Varma – the otherwise designated No. 3 – aced the role of finisher with flying colours, blasting an unbeaten 16-ball 44 from No. 6. In fact, the batters fired in unison to set up a match-winning total of 256/4.
Areas of Concern
One positive result cannot repair the cracks, though. There is one particular concern for Suryakumar Yadav’s men: the efficacy of the sixth bowler. For three matches in a row, all-rounder Shivam Dube’s medium pace has been feasted upon, and given the voracious appetite of the Windies batters, India will be wary of putting him in the line of fire in Kolkata.
Even the ever-consistent Varun Chakaravarthy hasn’t looked his usual best in the previous two matches, including the thrashing he received against South Africa in Ahmedabad.
Axar Patel was brought back against Zimbabwe, but he too lacked rhythm.
The responsibility invariably falls on the shoulders of Jasprit Bumrah. However, opponents are aware of this, and they could very well try to see off Bumrah and target the others.
Kuldeep to Get a Look-In?
The wrist-spinner has played just one game in the tournament so far – against Pakistan in Colombo, in conditions that were expected to favour the spinners. Will they consider bringing Kuldeep in for Axar? Or perhaps bench Dube?
Both options, though, would dent their batting prowess, and given how they collapsed against South Africa, the team management would not want a repeat of that. It is likely the team sticks with the winning combination in Kolkata.
What About Rinku?
Rinku Singh is expected to join India today after tending to a personal tragedy. Given his limited role in the playing XI (of a finisher) and the impact he has made so far, India may keep him on the bench. Including him would mean dropping either Axar or Dube, which would then leave the team one option short with the ball.
India’s probable XI against West Indies: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
