Chennai, Feb 27 (NationPress) After a decisive 72-run victory against Zimbabwe, the defending champions, India, may have calmed their nerves; however, cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar emphasized that they must not underestimate the formidable West Indies. The Men in Blue need to devise astute strategies to counter the Windies' batting prowess in what promises to be an exhilarating winner-takes-all Super Eights clash in Kolkata this Sunday.

"It's often said, 'If it ain't broken, don't fix it.' Yet, India faced a setback against South Africa. They recognized the necessity for a right-left batting combination at the top. Learning from prior matches was crucial. The West Indies pose an entirely different challenge. They should not be taken lightly. Their batsmen are in excellent form, and their bowlers are performing well, capitalizing on opponents' mistakes and striking precisely at the right moments.

“India must implement an effective plan to manage the West Indies' batting threat. Their players start attacking from the very first ball, not waiting to assess if the delivery deserves respect. Their version of respecting the ball involves hitting it over the boundary. Therefore, India will need to think strategically, develop unanticipated plans, and outmaneuver the West Indies. This Sunday’s match is bound to be thrilling,” Gavaskar remarked on JioStar.

He also praised how India regrouped after a 76-run defeat to South Africa in Ahmedabad, particularly noting the batting alterations and improved bowling. "India made a strong comeback after losing to South Africa, showcasing dominance against Zimbabwe. The margin of that defeat could have rattled the players, but they turned it into a positive against Sikandar Raza’s team, bouncing back robustly.

“Following the South Africa match, there was discussion about potential changes to the playing XI, and they made two adjustments that proved effective. While Sanju Samson didn't score a fifty, he provided India with a stellar start. Previously, the openers struggled, with Abhishek Sharma being dismissed for zero runs across three games, and Ishan Kishan failing to score against South Africa.

"In the match against Zimbabwe, Samson scored 24 runs rapidly. He and Abhishek maintained an impressive run rate of over 10 runs per over in the powerplay, which was remarkable. The bowling also improved, with Axar Patel maintaining tight control and taking a wicket, something that was missing against South Africa. Scoring 256 with most batsmen getting time at the crease is encouraging. However, India must not underestimate the West Indies. Sunday’s match determines whether they progress to the semifinals or wait until the 2028 T20 World Cup,” he explained.

Gavaskar highlighted Sanju Samson's swift 24 as a pivotal moment in the innings, noting that it set the stage for India’s substantial total of 256/4. "The six Sanju hit off the back foot over long-off was extraordinary. Executing that shot off the back foot is challenging; it’s typically played towards mid-wicket. Then he struck another six over long-on—remarkable shots that showcase his talent.

“In the interest of the team, he aimed for a big hit and got out, which is acceptable because he set India off to a flying start. In a tournament like the T20 World Cup, such a start is crucial as it lays a solid foundation for the other batsmen to follow suit and score freely.”

Gavaskar also commended Abhishek Sharma’s composed 55, recognizing it as a significant display of maturity from the young left-handed opener, who had faced challenges in earlier matches, including multiple ducks.

"We are aware of Abhishek Sharma's capabilities as a batsman. He silenced his critics with this 55-run innings against Zimbabwe. He took his time to settle into his innings with a strategic approach. He respected the off-spinner, avoided risks, and played with poise.

“In this game, he even played a defensive shot. I was surprised to see this, as it’s not typical of Abhishek. I genuinely believe this is a learning phase for him. Every cricketer experiences rough patches of low scores in consecutive matches.

“It’s about how much you can learn from those experiences. I believe Abhishek has gained valuable insights from this, which will greatly benefit him in the upcoming games, particularly in the crucial encounter against West Indies in Kolkata,” he concluded.