India captain Suryakumar Yadav and India head coach Gautam Gambhir during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 net match between India and Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
TimesofIndia.com in Kolkata: The 50-over series between India and Sri Lanka has come to an end and only one team remains unbeaten in the Super 8 and group stages of the T20 World Cup. With six wins in as many games, Aiden Markram’s South Africa are the only team yet to taste defeat and will decide their semi-final line-up for the Kolkata-Mumbai clash on Sunday. Two-time champions India and West Indies are vying for the available spot and everything will be played at the iconic Eden Gardens on Sunday.
India were pre-tournament favorites to win but they didn’t see this coming, but the beastly nature of the T20 format means that even the best players are not immune. Leading unit Suryakumar Yadav No exception. The virtual quarter-finals will be the first high-pressure test for the coaching duo Gautam Gambhir And Captain Surya. They were tested in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan last year, but the intensity of a World Cup knockout stage puts pressure on them that many can’t handle.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir and Team India Varun Chakravarthy during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India Sri Lanka 2026 net match at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India on February 23, 2026. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
War cries are already ringing from the corner opposite the West Indies coach Darren Sammy Said his soldiers were ready for battle. He has fond memories of playing at this venue in the past and was full of confidence in his pre-game media interactions.“Of course, every time we come to Eden Gardens, it brings back great memories. Will I tell you about my eleven? No, I won’t. But I can tell you that all my soldiers are ready for battle when we call them tomorrow. We have to wait until the eleven is thrown,” Sammy said, holding his eleven card to his chest.It would be fitting if Sami Soldier’s remarks received a befitting response from the Indian corner, but that will have to wait as head coach Gautam Gambhir is yet to interact with the media during this multi-nation tournament. Assistant coach Ryan Ten Doshat was once again in trouble, stressing the need for experienced players to withstand the pressure and contribute to the team in such situations.
West Indies coach Daren Sammy watches the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India vs Sri Lanka 2026 Super 8 match between Zimbabwe vs West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India on February 23, 2026. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
“South Africa are the only undefeated team in the competition at the moment. A tournament of this size has grown to the quarter-finals and you have to win to survive. It’s important to focus on ourselves and what has brought this team to this point and how good they are. There are only good players left in the tournament now, so it’s important that the big names step up, the experienced players step up, stay calm and stay true to the way we played before this game.” Ten Duchart.The defending champions were saddled with the expectations of their home fans, but management wanted to apply pressure rather than try to cover it up. The group’s focus is on embracing this must-win game rather than shying away from it. The word P has been around in the build-up to this game, but for the Indian team, P means privilege, not pressure.“I don’t think you want to cover up pressure. You want to go towards pressure. This has been the message throughout, not just in the World Cup but in bilateral series as well. All the preparation we do for this is to handle the stress when it comes. In addition to masking it, you also want to reframe it. We keep telling the players what an honor it is to play for your country and what an honor it is to walk out of a game at the Eden Gardens to stay in the Championship,” added Tendoshat.
India coach Ryan calls 10 dushats during Nets training
Apart from the fond memories of a decade ago, West Indies have also enjoyed great success this year, recording wins against both Scotland and Italy in Kolkata. They were also unbeaten in the World Cup before South Africa stopped their attack in Ahmedabad. However, the match that kept India all focused showed that even when faced with the count on the pads, the West Indies will continue to deliver their strongest punches.They looked sluggish after a poor start, but some back-line action from Jason Holder and Romario Sheppard kept them alive until the halfway mark. South Africa didn’t break a sweat as they chased down the total, but even in defeat, the Shay Hope-led side showed its character and why it remains a force in the tournament. Sammy urged them to leave Ahmedabad, South Africa, citing their 2016 campaign as an example.“Leave South Africa in Ahmedabad, like in 2016. I remember Afghanistan beat us and we just said, throw it away. We can still take positive things from the game. Rarely do you see a team that shoots 7 for 83 points go on to score 170 points. I think we sent a strong message about the depth of our batting. But yes, we came away from that game in Ahmedabad and our focus is only on what we have to do tomorrow against a strong Indian team and that is our focus now,” Sammy said.
West Indies’ Jason Holder celebrates the wicket of Zimbabwe’s Graeme Cremer during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup between India and India. Sri Lanka’s 2026 Super 8 match between Zimbabwe and West Indies was held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India on February 23, 2026. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
West Indies batted with great depth. They have firepower from the start to ninth and have seen Simron Heitmyer have a great year for the Willows. A threatening line-up that comes naturally to them could give any opponent sleepless nights, but India seemed relaxed in the run-up to the match. No. 10 coach Duchard claims they are ready to fight fire with fire and don’t care if the format suits their opponents.“I don’t think it will bother us at all. The challenge is that they are a very good T20 team. They have quality as good as any of the best teams in the world. What you know about the West Indies team is that when they play T20 matches, they give absolutely everything. This is an important time on their calendar. This is a challenge we welcome. Tomorrow we will fight fire with fire and I am looking forward to a very exciting game. “Said Shiduoshat.
polling
Who will win the Eden Gardens virtual quarter-final – India or West Indies?
There is an optional training program for the Indian team, but even the 12 players taking part were busy on the practice field near the ropes, while others were in the square preparing for range shots. Coach Gambill chatted with various players, most of whom were going about their usual routines, putting on the finishing touches. Big games separate the good from the great, and for 22 players on both sides on Sunday, it’s a chance to move towards a legacy they will long remember.As a dozen Saudis have said, it’s a clean slate, but anything below a W would be considered an anomaly from the Indian side.
