T20 World Cup: West Indies eyes high-flying Zimbabwe scalp

It has been exactly a decade since Zimbabwe last played an international match in India. Back in 2016, while Daren Sammy-led West Indies scripted history by becoming the first team to win two World T20 titles, Zimbabwe exited in the preliminary round.

On Monday at the Wankhede Stadium, the two sides reunite in far different circumstances. Sikandar Raza’s Zimbabwe takes on West Indies — with Sammy as the head coach — in the Super Eights of the Men’s T20 World Cup.

For two teams that spent much of the past decade labelled as international cricket’s also-rans, topping their respective groups and meeting at this stage marks a significant shift. It signals progress for both Caribbean and Zimbabwean cricket, and underlines the expanding footprint of the T20 game beyond its traditional power centres.

Zimbabwe has been the fairytale of the tournament. A stunning win over Australia sealed their Super Eights berth — and a rare return to Indian soil — before they underlined their credentials by beating co-host Sri Lanka to finish atop the group.

The challenge now is adaptation. Only Raza and left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza remain from the 2016 squad that last toured India. The transition from the slower, lower pitches in Sri Lanka to the typically flatter Wankhede surface will test their adaptability. Unsurprisingly, despite the momentum, Zimbabwe will begin as underdogs.

It is also monitoring the fitness of left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava. West Indies, meanwhile, has been bolstered by the return of allrounder Romario Shepherd, who missed the final two league matches with a niggle. Sammy confirmed Shepherd is available for selection, with the allrounder bowling an extended spell in training on Sunday.

West Indies may not have anticipated Zimbabwe in their Super Eights opener, but they have had time to recalibrate. The question now is whether Zimbabwe can script a third successive upset — or whether experience will prevail.