IND vs WI, T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s: The prestigious Eden Gardens India and the West Indies will face off in a virtual quarterfinal of the 2026 T20 World Cup. India should not overlook the West Indies, even though they are the favorites.
T20 World Cup 2026: West Indies take on India at Eden Gardens with a spot in the semis up for grabs. (Image: PTI)
India and the West Indies will play a virtual quarterfinal in the revered prestigious Eden Gardens. The Windies, who competed in the same location for the 2016 T20 World Cup final, will try to replicate the P.C. Sarkar’s flare they shown against England, who were the clear favorites to win that match heading into the final over. It was more than simply a trophy that night. It had to do with theater. Nerves were the issue. It had to do with a squad that defied the plan.
One of the greatest moments in cricket history occurred in Kolkata on that stormy April evening when Carlos Brathwaite smacked four sixes off Ben Stokes to reclaim the West Indies title as world champions. It was among the greatest finals in the history of the format. An outburst of courage that motivated future generations.
Carlos Brathwaite hit four sixes in a row in the T20 World Cup 2016 final at Eden Gardens. (Image: Reuters)
On this side, that memories will not be forgotten.
West Indies, led by Shai Hope, will be looking to replicate that motivation against pre-tournament favorites India, who may have finally shown their mettle in the T20 World Cup 2026 by scoring 256 runs against Zimbabwe, the second-highest total in the competition’s history. However, excluding the West Indies would be a mistake.
Zimbabwe was defeated by the West Indies three days prior to India’s second-highest score. The same Zimbabwe that had eliminated Australia earlier. Zimbabwe was the same country that had diminished their prospects of being the tournament’s surprise package. However, the Windies easily disassembled them. And this is the character of this group. They do more than simply win. They are in charge.
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Don’t underestimate the West Indies.
When playing India, the West Indies would perform at their peak. South Africa, which barely avoided defeat against Afghanistan, appears to be the team to win this tournament after suffering a humiliating loss to them.
On an Ahmedabad pitch with a run total of 220-230, the Windies were bowled out for a mere 176. Aiden Markram’s 46-ball 82* helped South Africa chase down the mark in just 16.1 overs, demonstrating that the bowling was also not very noteworthy.
The night was deflating. Nor was it wholly unexpected.
The West Indies were hammered by South Africa earlier in the T20 World Cup 2026. (Image: AP)
Shimron Hetmyer, who is relishing his new position in the competition, is ranked third. Within a few overs, Hetmyer alters the pressure when he calms down. An amazing Sherfen Rutherford will be at the end of the batting order, ready to take advantage of any chance, if you obtain Shimron. Outside of these two talented players are number 10 Romario Shepherd and Rovman Powell, both of whom are strong batsmen who have the ability to alter the tone of the match.
They are harmful because of this. Until all of their hitters are out, the game never feels really over. The Windies sense that an explosion is imminent, even in their tranquil moments.
Curiously, the West Indies counterbalance it with calculated batters who aren’t your typical T20 bashers, such Brandon King, Shai Hope, and Roston Chase. They are collectors. They maintain their form. They may play carefully until that one batter ultimately blows up in the game on days when the hitters aren’t quite able to fire.
Perhaps the greatest tragedy facing the West Indies is that their batters don’t perform well most of the time, but when they do, they appear to be world-class players.
And it might be the enchantment that the West Indies hopes to evoke at prestigious Eden Gardens, a venue that has hosted some amazing Twenty20 matches recently.
The incredible 2016 final was given by prestigious Eden Gardens over ten years ago. In the most recent IPL match, it resulted in a high-scoring thriller between the Punjab Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders, with the hosts losing despite scoring 261. Jos Buttler’s scorching century last year helped the Rajasthan Royals defeat KKR by surpassing Sunil Narine’s 109. On days when it seems like a one-sided contest, prestigious Eden Gardens has a talent for creating drama.
In this T20 World Cup, the West Indies have already played two games in the prestigious Eden Gardens, against minnows Italy and a comparatively unprepared Scotland. Hetmyer and Shepherd helped them win by 35 runs against Scotland.
Shepherd recorded a hat-trick along with the tournament’s top figures of 5/20. A reminder that there is more to this club than batting mayhem. With the ball, it can also change games.
Shimron Hetmyer has been West Indies’ standout batter in the T20 World Cup 2026. (Image: AP)
The Army of Spinners in West India
Gudakesh Motie has been West Indies’ best bowler in T20 World Cup 2026. (Image: PTI)
In certain aspects, the West Indies is capable of competing effectively against India at prestigious Eden Gardens.
One of the world’s best spin bashers is Shimron Hetmyer. If the opportunity arises, Rutherford and Shepherd can go down the order and pluck the bones out of the sixth bowler.
Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, and Roston Chase are the Windies’ army of spinners in the bowling unit; they may not be world beaters, but they have control. India may secretly be interested in this match given their recent struggles against persistent slow bowling.
Shai Hope and Brandon King, the openers, aren’t always intimidating. Shamar Joseph, their lone fast bowling specialist, has given up a lot of runs during the competition. The fast bowler, who gained popularity in the Test format, has been involved in off-field incidents and has not yet fully converted that menace into white-ball cricket.
However, that is the West Indies in many respects.
They’ve never felt safe. A little volatile all the time. frequently contentious. There are always obvious weaknesses in their armor. The first team to win two T20 World Cups, however.
They don’t guarantee authority. They offer potential.
If this Windies team could eliminate the home favorites from the Eden Gardens event, it would be somewhat symmetrical after they faltered in their own backyard during the previous World Cup.
If this game defied logic, it would be appropriate. It will probably swing. Most likely, it will sway. Most certainly, it will continue till the very end.
It’s hardly surprising if prestigious Eden Gardens holds its breath again if it does. In any case, it will unfold in the most P.C. sarkar’s fashion imaginable: erratic, rhythmic, a little crazy, and unavoidable.