Big picture: Semi-finals await one team
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.
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.
Form guide
India WLWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
West Indies LWWWW
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.
Team news: Rinku unlikely
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.
India (probable): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Varun Chakravarthy.
Brandon King, who had sustained an injury against South Africa, is fit and available, which should suggest no changes for West Indies.
West Indies (probable): 1 Brandon King, 2 Shai Hope (capt & wk), 3 Shimron Hetmyer, 4 Rovman Powell, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Sherfane Rutherford, 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Jason Holder, 9 Matthew Forde, 10 Gudakesh Motie, 11 Shamar Joseph.
Pitch and conditions
The only way for India to get knocked out without losing this match is a washout or so many ties that time runs out to bowl enough Super Overs. The former, we can assure you, is not likely. A warm Kolkata evening awaits both sides with no chance of rain. West Indies coach Daren Sammy indicated on Saturday that the pitch seemed dry.
Stats and trivia
- West Indies have not beaten India at Eden Gardens in any international since 1983, drawing two and losing nine matches including four T20Is.
- West Indies have not made it to the semi-finals of an ICC event since they won the T20 World Cup in 2016.
Quotes
“I think that old-school way of just containing in T20 cricket has long gone out. We feel West Indies play a risk-reward game of high proportion. So as a bowling unit, we are really looking forward to that challenge.”
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate
“Do I tell you my XI? No, I will not. But let me tell you, all my soldiers are ready to take down Goliath tomorrow.”
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy
Sidharth Monga is a senior writer at ESPNcricinfo
