In the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 against Zimbabwe, the West Indies emerged victorious by a huge margin of 107 runs at the Wankhede Stadium.
Speaking about the victory, former Team India cricketer Anil Kumble said that the side understood what it takes to win the title. He also heaped praise on spinners Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein.
“West Indies understand what it takes to win at this stage of the tournament. The left-arm spinners were outstanding. Gudakesh Motie bowled brilliantly. In this format, finger spinners often try to stay away from the batter`s hitting arc, but Motie and Akeal Hosein were different,” he said.
Motie returned with the figures of four wickets for 28 runs in four overs, whereas Hosein bagged three wickets by conceding 28 runs in four overs.
In the first essay of the match, explosive batsman Shimron Hetmyer smashed 85 runs off just 34 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries and the same number of maximums.
Speaking on his explosive knock, the former cricketer said that he knows how to clear the boundaries, and the left-handed batsman also tries to convert his starts into big scores.
“He has long been a finisher and knows how to clear the boundaries. He has the power and the temperament. What stands out is that he doesn`t settle for quick cameos of 20 or 30. He converts them into substantial scores. Had he fallen for 30, perhaps West Indies wouldn`t have reached 254, and Zimbabwe might have found a way back,” said Kumble.
He then spoke about India`s defeat against South Africa. Kumble feels that the primary focus of the Suryakumar Yadav-led men should be winning both matches.
“Every game counts at this stage. India suffered a significant loss to South Africa, and it wasn`t just about losing, but the manner of that defeat. The key question now is whether they can bounce back strongly against Zimbabwe. India needs to win convincingly, much like West Indies did against Zimbabwe, to improve their net run-rate. After that, they must beat West Indies as well. The primary focus should be on winning both matches. The net run-rate will naturally improve if they are in control of the game,” said the 55-year-old former cricketer.
T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8: Team India`s upcoming fixture
On the other hand, the “Men in Blue” suffered a loss against South Africa. They will lock horns with Zimbabwe in the upcoming fixture. The clash is scheduled to be played on February 26 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Ahead of the match, it will be interesting to see if swashbuckling opening batsman Abhishek Sharma manages to deliver a big knock. Team India also need to win the remaining two matches of the Super 8 stage with a huge margin to keep their title defence hopes alive.
(With ANI Inputs)
