Kolkata, March 1: West Indies appear set to target India’s perceived vulnerability against spin bowling in their crucial T20 World Cup Super 8 encounter at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
During the training session on the eve of the match, left-arm spinners Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein bowled extensively in the nets, underlining the Caribbean side’s likely strategy to exploit spin-friendly conditions and challenge India’s batting lineup.
India’s batters, including Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, spent considerable time facing left-arm spinners during practice, signaling preparations to counter the Windies’ spin threat. Local left-arm spinners were also brought in to simulate match conditions.
With the winner progressing to the semi-finals and the loser facing elimination, the contest carries the intensity of a virtual final.
Spin-Centric Strategy : While Akeal Hosein is a conventional left-arm orthodox spinner, Gudakesh Motie adds variety with left-arm wrist spin and carrom balls. Off-spinner Roston Chase remains another option in the West Indies bowling arsenal, raising the possibility of a three-spinner attack.
Windies Power Focus : Shimron Hetmyer was the first to bat in the nets for West Indies, focusing on tackling left-arm pace — possibly in preparation for India’s Arshdeep Singh. Brandon King concentrated on power-hitting drills during an extended throwdown session.
India’s Preparations : For India, Ishan Kishan initially bowled off-spin and leg-spin in the nets before switching to batting practice. Axar Patel, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma also had extended batting sessions.
Shivam Dube appeared to focus on refining his bowling after facing criticism in the previous match. Instead of variations, he concentrated on disciplined medium-pace deliveries.
Notably, Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya did not take part in the training session, raising questions ahead of the crucial fixture. Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube bowled for extended periods during practice.
The high-stakes encounter begins at 7 PM IST and will be broadcast live on Star Sports and JioHotstar.
