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KOLKATA – Similarly to when they met in 2016, West Indies head coach Daren Sammy knows his side will be the underdogs in India on Sunday when they take on India in their must-win Super Eights contest at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The two teams will face off at Eden Gardens in a clash that will see the winner advancing to the semifinal stage and the loser eliminated from the tournament.
Sammy was captain of that West Indies side that defeated India by seven wickets at the Wankhede Stadium 10 years ago, where they eventually went on to capture their second successive T20 World Cup title by downing England in a thrilling final.
Speaking in a pre-match press conference on Saturday, Sammy told reporters that while it featured two completely different teams at a different venue, he was hopeful of the same outcome from a decade ago.
“There is a saying that history could repeat itself, although it was a different venue. But it is two different teams, two teams trying to move on in the tournament.
“I still think to win this tournament you have to go through India at some point and tomorrow is that day for us and we have to play a good game of cricket in order to come out victorious,” Sammy said.
“…I’m pretty sure they’re going to have another 80, 000 [fans] here tomorrow and then another 1.4 billion supporting India, so it will still feel like another David versus Goliath showdown, but like I said in 2016, David did defeat Goliath so that’s what I’m going to tell my boys tomorrow.”
Sammy said his troops had moved on from their nine-wicket loss to South Africa in their previous game, their first of the tournament.
He, however, acknowledged that the Windies would have to be at their best against the home side.
“We’ve left that game against South Africa in Ahmedabad, and our focus has been solely on what we have to do tomorrow against a strong Indian team…It still boils down to execution and one loss in a tournament doesn’t say you’re a bad team. You see how India responded after their loss to South Africa and we have to respond after that loss as well.
“Like I said we have to play a complete game. The team has quality; they have match winners just like we do and it’s a battle of who executes with both bat and ball and the fielding as well,” Sammy said.
“I expect it to be an exciting game, but as usual I want my team to win and that’s what we’re focusing on, on how we can get an advantage versus all the matchups and play the brand that is effective enough to bring us the victory tomorrow.”
Sammy said both he and his players understood the importance of the match.
He said the spirit in the camp was high and gave the assurance that they were fully prepared for the task at hand.
“…I do understand what this games mean. It’s a knockout game; you win you go through; you lose and then you start thinking about all of the what ifs that could have happened, and that’s what makes an athlete, that’s what makes competition, that’s what makes a World Cup the pinnacle of your sport.
“We’re going to come out there, we have the mindset, we prepared well, we’ve planned well. It all comes down to the execution and that’s what I’m going to be channeling into the boys, and I know they’re ready to deliver,” Sammy said.
“…It would be a massive celebration for us to get through to the semifinals. We’ve not been there in 10 years so that would be an achievement for the group, and it means that our mission is still possible.”
CMC
English (US) ·