It has come down to this. After India’s emphatic demolition of Zimbabwe in Chennai, their final Super Eights clash against West Indies has morphed into a straight knockout. The equation is simple: win and reach the semi-finals; lose — or potentially even draw via rain — and the campaign could be over.
South Africa have already sealed progression from the group. The final berth will be decided under the lights in Kolkata.
While India’s 256/4 against Zimbabwe — the second-highest total in men’s T20 World Cup history — significantly boosted their net run rate, West Indies remain marginally ahead. That means if rain washes out the contest, West Indies will advance at India’s expense. There is no margin for hesitation for Suryakumar Yadav’s team. A victory is the only guaranteed route through.
India’s response to pressure in Chennai was emphatic. After suffering a record defeat to South Africa to open their Super Eights campaign, they needed a statement performance — and delivered one.
Abhishek Sharma rediscovered fluency with a 26-ball 50 after a sequence of low scores. Sanju Samson, reinstated as opener, provided early momentum, while Ishan Kishan looked far more comfortable at No. 3 with a crisp 38 off 24 deliveries.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav led from the front with a 13-ball 33, showcasing his trademark range. The middle-order muscle was supplied by Hardik Pandya (50 off 23) and Tilak Varma, whose unbeaten 44 from just 16 balls highlighted adaptability after being demoted to No. 6.
The template was clear: sustained aggression, depth through the order, and ruthless finishing. But West Indies present a far sterner examination than Zimbabwe.
Shai Hope’s team topped their group with four straight wins and thrashed Zimbabwe by 107 runs in Mumbai. Yet their campaign stalled against South Africa in Ahmedabad, where they were dismantled by nine wickets.
Reduced to 83/7 at one stage, West Indies were rescued by former captain Jason Holder (49) and the explosive Romario Shepherd (52*), who stitched together a record 89-run partnership. Captain Shai Hope will take heart from that resilience — but the top-order collapse exposed a potential fragility against high-quality pace. India’s quicks will note that blueprint.
Selection could define this contest.
Varun Chakravarthy has endured a mixed Super Eights, conceding heavily against both South Africa and Zimbabwe. At Eden Gardens — a venue he knows intimately from his IPL career — this could be the stage for redemption. Alternatively, India could bolster their spin resources by bringing in Kuldeep Yadav as a third specialist spinner, though that may mean sacrificing seam options such as Arshdeep Singh, who impressed with three wickets in the previous outing.
West Indies, meanwhile, may deploy a calculated spin squeeze of their own. Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie form a capable trio, particularly against an Indian side that has occasionally looked uncomfortable against disciplined finger spin.
Conditions at Eden Gardens — traditionally offering grip as games progress but also rewarding stroke play under lights — will heavily influence the final XI on both sides.
Eden Gardens has hosted countless classics, and this encounter has all the ingredients to join that list: explosive batting line-ups, contrasting bowling philosophies, and knockout-level tension.
India carry momentum and the backing of a partisan crowd. West Indies carry raw power and a history of thriving in high-pressure T20 moments. Both sides have shown brilliance. Both have revealed flaws.
One match. One semi-final berth. A tournament hanging in the balance.
