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India will face the West Indies in a blockbuster Super 8 clash at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on March 1. This match is practically a virtual quarter-final. With South Africa already securing their semi-final spot from Group 1, it is a do-or-die battle for both teams, who currently sit on two points each. The winner will punch their ticket to the semi-finals, while the loser will be knocked out of the tournament. However, if rain washes out the game, the West Indies will advance thanks to their superior Net Run Rate (+1.791 compared to India’s -0.100).
Coming off a massive 72-run win over Zimbabwe, India has found a fearless rhythm. Meanwhile, the West Indies are eager to bounce back after a tough loss to South Africa.
With a semi-final spot on the line, here are the key player battles that could decide the match:
1. Abhishek Sharma vs Gudakesh Motie
Abhishek Sharma just demolished Zimbabwe's bowling with a blazing 55. However, he faces a tough test against West Indies' star spinner, Gudakesh Motie, who has been brilliant at controlling the middle overs with 13 tournament wickets.
2. Shimron Hetmyer vs Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh is India’s leading pacer with 15 scalps, proving lethal with his death-over yorkers. He will go head-to-head against Shimron Hetmyer, the West Indies’ anchor who has already smashed over 400 runs.
3. Suryakumar Yadav vs Akeal Hosein
India’s captain has been unstoppable, scoring heavily at a massive strike rate. Akeal Hosein’s job will be to contain his 360-degree stroke play and grab a crucial breakthrough to put India under pressure.
