Latest update March 1st, 2026 12:05 AM
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Can West Indies make up for bowling gulf in virtual quarter-final against India?
(ESPN Cricinfo) – This fixture was, of course, known in advance, but the stakes are somewhat surprising. Neither was it expected that India could be knocked out of their own party if they lose to West Indies nor was it expected that West Indies could go to the semi-finals if they win this match.
The expected result still is for India to overcome that one blip against South Africa and make it to the semi-finals. Then again, jeopardy and unpredictability are at the heart of this format.
The path to get here has been similar for both teams: a thumping loss to South Africa and a resounding win over Zimbabwe. Even their scores against Zimbabwe were nearly identical.
Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd added a record eighth-wicket partnership in the previous match. (Associated Press)
West Indies are one team India haven’t faced in their dominant run starting with the 2024 T20 World Cup. They are, in fact, the last team to have beaten India in a series way back in August 2023.
Both sides have improved since then. India are a well-oiled domination machine, West Indies have put together scary six-hitters who have happened to hit form. They have hit more sixes than any side at any T20 World Cup, and India are three behind them with 63 so far.
It is with the ball that India hold an advantage. India’s bowlers are match-winners. They have pace and mystery. It gives them room for error. West Indies are a strictly defensive bowling unit. They’ll need everything to go their way to get the better of India.
In the spotlight: Abhishek Sharma and Roston Chase – He might have taken just 26 balls to get there against Zimbabwe, but it was Abhishek Sharma’s second-slowest fifty in T20Is. That’s because he had scored just 15 runs in the first four matches, which made him take his time against offspin, scoring just 13 off 17 balls against that style of bowling. That makes Roston Chase an important player even though he went for 46 against South Africa. He is the only spinner in the West Indies squad who takes his stock ball away from left-hand batters; India have five of them in their top eight.
Rinku Singh lost his father after the match against Zimbabwe, which he missed with India bringing in Sanju Samson to break up the left-hand batters in the top order. He is expected to join the squad on Saturday night but isn’t expected to play.
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