PTI
Kolkata
Their batting has finally burst into life but cracks remain in India’s bowling armour as they take on an explosive West Indies in a virtual quarterfinal of the T20 World Cup, here on Sunday.
West Indies’ defeat to South Africa and India’s emphatic win over Zimbabwe have turned this Group 1 Super Eights clash into a do-or-die contest, making it a high-stakes battle at the Eden Gardens.
The winner will get a place in the second semifinal against England on March 5 in Mumbai.
India’s batting revival against Zimbabwe was just perfect and long-awaited. In a rejigged line-up, with Sanju Samson returning to the top, all the top six contributed in unison.
Making a comeback, Sanju scored only 24, but he deserves credit for lifting the tempo early and giving India a flying start. That aggressive approach settled the nerves of Abhishek Sharma, whose previous best in an uncharacteristically lean tournament had been 15 following a
hat-trick of ducks.
The star opener responded in style with a half-century, while Tilak Varma flourished in his new No.6 role batting with renewed intent in his
16-ball 44 not out.
India ticked all the boxes with the bat, posting 256/4 — the highest total of this T20 World Cup — but that does not mean they arrive at Eden Gardens
without concerns.
While left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was India’s pick with a triple strike against Zimbabwe and Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya have been clinical, it is spin ace Varun Chakravarthy who has looked a shadow of his past.
The mystery spinner has failed to get his length right and appears guilty of experimenting too much.
