01 March,2026 08:59 AM IST | Kolkata | R Kaushik
India’s Jasprit Bumrah during a net session on the eve of the match against West Indies in Kolkata on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images; (right) WI’s Shimron Hetmyer during a practice session in Kolkata on Saturday
It's called the City of Joy, but on Sunday night, it will be joy for only one of the protagonists. A massive crowd at the Eden Gardens will be hoping that joy is for their heroes, and by extension themselves, but up against them is the side that has wonderful memories of this iconic venue, where Carlos Brathwaite slammed four consecutive last-over sixes off Ben Stokes in the final of the 2016 T20 World Cup.
Having left themselves with a mountain to climb once they were battered by South Africa a week back, India will believe the force is back with them going into the virtual quarter-final. But no one will consider Shai Hope's outfit a pushover. Even in defeat on Thursday against South Africa, the Caribbeans showcased great commonsense and maturity as they rallied from 83-7 to post 176. That they can unleash someone as explosive as Romario Shepherd at No. 9 speaks of their power-hitting riches.
India will need Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh as well as Varun Chakravarthy, their three attacking bowling weapons, to step up and deliver the knockout blows, pun intended, which will allow Suryakumar Yadav to breathe easy. India's long and enviably aggressive batting line-up has attracted plenty of interest and attention, but WI are no less dangerous, from Hope and Brandon King through Shimron Hetmyer, and then Rovman Powell and Jason Holder all the way to Shepherd.
The best of India's batting was on view in Chennai on Thursday and it's on that wave that they will hope to ride in the first night match at the Eden in this tournament. There is a touch of green to the surface, though whether that will translate to any assistance for Bumrah, Arshdeep, Hardik Pandya, Matthew Forde and Shamar Joseph remains to be seen. Forde and Joseph have relished sharing new-ball responsibilities and will fancy their chances against Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, finally looking like the world-beater he is.
Everything India touched turned to gold in the first of four must-win clashes against Zimbabwe. Samson's return, Ishan Kishan's injection at one-drop and Tilak Varma at No. 6 played out like a dream. This rejigged batting order will again carry the hopes of millions.
Four
No. of wins for India over WI at the Eden Gardens in as many T20Is
19-10
India's win-loss record against the West Indies in 30 T20Is - one ended in a no result
Three
No. of times India have lost to WI across four T20 World Cup matches
