2016 heartbreak in past, India look to return the favour to West Indies in Kolkata
India Today
T20 World Cup, IND vs WI: Back in 2016, it was the West Indies who eliminated India with a thrilling semifinal victory. This time, India have the opportunity to turn the tables when the two teams meet in the Super 8 clash on March 1 in Kolkata.
It's been nearly a decade, yet the memories of that Mumbai thriller still linger vividly. With three needed off three balls, Andre Russell unleashed a towering shot over mid-wicket off Virat Kohli's full toss, leaving Wankhede Stadium in stunned silence. The West Indies not only claimed a dramatic semi-final victory that day but also ended India's campaign in heartbreak.
Ten years on, Kolkata awaits another chapter in this rivalry. India and the West Indies find themselves in a similar high-stakes situation, where it's do or die for both sides. Remarkably, this will be the first encounter between the two teams in a T20 World Cup since that fateful 2016 clash. West Indies have fond memories of the last time they faced India in such a high-value T20 World Cup clash. (Reuters Photo)
The wounds of that defeat still run deep, and this time, India will be eager to turn the tables in their Super 8 showdown on Sunday at the iconic Eden Gardens in the City of Joy.
India's woes against the West Indies in T20 World Cups have been long-standing, and the defeat at Wankhede was far from a one-off. Historically, the Caribbean side has had India's number, holding a 3-1 edge over the 2024 champions. Memories of past clashes still linger vividly.
In 2009, Dwayne Bravo's blistering 66 with the bat and four wickets with the ball at Lord's left India shell-shocked. The very next year, Chris Gayle tormented the visitors with a 98-run masterclass at the Bridgetown in Barbados. India have beaten West Indies only once in T20 World Cups. (Photo: PTI)
Then came 2016, when Lendl Simmons, Andre Russell, and Johnson Charles ensured India couldn't claim the upper hand. The only respite for India in this saga came in 2014 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, where Amit Mishra stepped up with the ball after which Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli hit fifties, guiding India to a thrilling win with two balls left.
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