Anil Kumble highlights India’s chances for a semi-final spot: West Indies showcased brute force against Zimbabwe in the Super 8 match on Monday at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Shimron Hetmyer led the charge for the Windies as the Southpaw scored 85 off 34 balls, hitting seven fours and as many sixes. He was given a chance twice in the game as Zimbabwe fielders dropped his catch.
Leading his innings, he has been the highest run scorer for the Windies in this edition of the T20 World Cup with 219 runs. The West Indies posted a total of 254/6 in their 20 overs, which was the second-highest team total in the T20 World Cups.
‘The West Indies understand what it takes to win at this stage of the tournament’- Anil Kumble
Speaking on Shimron Hetmyer’s innings and West Indies overall performance, former India captain Anil Kumble praised the team’s solid all-round display. Kumble also highlighted the point of Gudakesh Motie’s incredible bowling performance as the latter picked four wickets in the match.
“The 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 Hosein were different,” Kumble was quoted as saying on JioHotstar.
Kumble highlighted the importance of Hetmyer’s innings, “Shimron Hetmyer 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 the West Indies wouldn’t have reached 254.”
Anil Kumble praises Rovman Powell
Anil Kumble also loved the controlled aggression of Rovman Powell, who scored 59 off 35 balls, hitting four sixes and the same number of fours. He was the anchor while Hetmyer was charging the Zimbabwe bowlers, later on, he picked up the pace and score at a strike rate of 168.57.
Anil Kumble also noted Rovman Powell’s calculated approach, stating, “Powell is again a proven power-hitter. He took his time initially, but once he settled, he was unstoppable. He strikes the ball extremely hard.”
The former India captain also discussed, while speaking on the JioHotstar show, that India, despite suffering a loss by 76 runs against South Africa have to make a strong comeback against Zimbabwe in order to stay in contention for the semi-final race. Kumble highlighted the importance of each match for Suryakumar Yadav’s side.
“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,” he said, reflecting on the team’s need for a strong recovery.
‘India needs to win convincingly’- Anil Kumble
For the Men in Blue to stay in the race for a semifinal spot, they need to win games by comprehensive margins like the Windies did against the Chevrons on Monday. The India National Cricket Team will face Zimbabwe on Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
“India needs to win convincingly, much like the West Indies did against Zimbabwe, to improve their net run rate. After that, they must beat the 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,” Anil Kumble concluded.
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