BRIDGETOWN, May 8 Handed a sound thrashing by Australia in opening Super Eight match, India will have to quickly sort out their batting woes as they take on West Indies in a do-or-die contest in the ICC World Twenty20 at the Kensington Oval on Sunday.

Like Indians, West Indies are also faced with a must-win situation, as another defeat would virtually put them out of contention for a place in the semi-finals.

Fortunately for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men, the islanders do not have a lethal pace battery like Australians. So element of pace and bounce will not impact the Indian batsmen who surrendered meekly to the Aussies' pace quartet.

India would have certainly learnt a lesson or two from their embarrassing 49-run drubbing on Friday. Dhoni conceded India had sought to fight fire with fire and had consequently paid for imprudence.

West Indies would be determined to do well in front of their home crowd, especially after being mauled by 57 runs by Sri Lanka.

“We will definitely have a discussion about our performance and go back to drawing board to get ourselves sorted out. As it is a must win game for both sides, it will be a good battle at the square,” said skipper Chris Gayle.

“We watched India-Australia game. We will look at that option. At same time you have bowl according to plan to achieve desired results. I think India have quality batsmen who can make adjustments, according to situation,” said Gayle.

India lost six wickets to Aussie fast bowlers Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait on a lively pitch and seemed to struggle with short-pitched deliveries - a point not lost on Gayle whose attack features several quicks.

“We can use the short ball but at the same we have to be careful because it [the Kensington Oval] is a small ground and they have quality batters who can make adjustments. But it's certainly something we will put into our plans.”

West Indies played a major part in their own downfall against Sri Lanka by missing six chances, with Gayle himself dropping Kumar Sangakkara at slip before his opposite number had scored.

Sangakkara went on to make 68 and share in a 166-run stand with former skipper Mahela Jayawardene, who was given two reprieves before finishing with an unbeaten 98.

“We'll discuss what happened and it's back to the drawing board,” Gayle said. “It's a must-win for both teams and it should be a good game.

“We are still confident we can win the two games and move onto the semi-final,” the opening batsman insisted.

He added “It's a disappointing start but we had our chances and we let it slip away. We can't take away the fact they batted really well but those missed chances hurt us.”

With Australia and Sri Lanka sitting pretty with two points under their belt, India would have to play best cricket to get better of West Indians.—Agencies

Opinion

Editorial

Taxing targets
Updated 08 Jul, 2024

Taxing targets

The FBR can expect to be reminded very soon that taxation is just as much a political issue as it is a fiscal concern.
Ending vigilantism
08 Jul, 2024

Ending vigilantism

THE dangers that vigilantism — especially mob attacks and lynchings inspired by dubious rumours and allegations of...
Feudal crimes
08 Jul, 2024

Feudal crimes

FEUDAL impunity is destroying Pakistan’s poor populations. This is particularly true in Sindh where the vulnerable...
Political prerogative
Updated 07 Jul, 2024

Political prerogative

It should be left to parliament to decide how the country must proceed on the matter.
Pezeshkian’s test
07 Jul, 2024

Pezeshkian’s test

THE list of challenges, both domestic and foreign, before Iranian president-elect Masoud Pezeshkian is a long and...
Amending SOE law
07 Jul, 2024

Amending SOE law

IN Pakistan, reforms move slowly, particularly when powerful lobbies are involved. The reform of state-owned...