Before the knockout match of the T20 World Cup, West Indies coach Darren Sammy has warned India. Describing the match as ‘David vs Goliath’, he recalled the 2016 win and described his team’s deep batting as a threat to India.
Kolkata: Before India’s important Super 8 match in the T20 World Cup, West Indies head coach Darren Sammy has given a big warning to Team India. Sammy described the match between India and West Indies as a battle of ‘David vs Goliath’. He said that Team India with the support of 140 crore people is very strong, but just like in history when David defeated Goliath, the same can happen now also.
Sammy reminded of the semi-finals of the 2016 T20 World Cup, when West Indies defeated India and made it to the finals. He said in the press conference, “It is said that history repeats itself. That ground was another (Mumbai’s Wankhede), today it is Eden Gardens. If you want to win the World Cup, you will have to defeat India at some point or the other. For us, that day is Sunday.” It is also special that in 2016, Darren Sammy was the captain of West Indies, who made the team win the title.
The batting depth of West Indies can become a threat to Team India. Against South Africa, the team had lost 7 wickets for 83 runs, but still scored 176 runs. Sammy said, “You don’t always see a team go from 83/7 to 170 runs. I think it is a strong message about how deep our batting line-up is. But we have left that match behind in Ahmedabad. Now our entire focus is on what to do against a strong India.”
Sammy also mentioned Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd, who can hit sixes at number six and seven. Besides, the team also has high expectations from Shimron Hetmyer who is in good form.
He said, “My warriors are ready for tomorrow’s fight. The playing eleven will be announced only after the toss. This is a knockout match. Whoever loses will be out of the tournament. It is important that we implement our strategy properly on the field.” Sammy also reminded that in 2016, on the same ground (Eden Gardens), Carlos Brathwaite had won the T20 World Cup for West Indies by hitting four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes in the last over of the final.