India's place in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals has not yet been confirmed. This is due to the Indian team's 76-run defeat to South Africa in their first Super 8 match. In Ahmedabad, the Proteas completely dominated Suryakumar Yadav's team, defeating them. However, India bounced back in their second match, defeating Zimbabwe by 72 runs. Now, Team India needs a win to advance to the next round, and for that, they must defeat the West Indies.

India will face the West Indies in their final Super 8 match on Sunday, March 1st, in Kolkata. The winner of this match will qualify directly for the semi-finals. That's why this match is crucial for India, as any mistake could lead to their elimination from the tournament.

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West Indies have also performed exceptionally well in the T20 World Cup 2026 and boast several big-match winners. With this in mind, let's take a look at three West Indies players who could pose a significant threat to India.

3. Sherfane Rutherford

West Indies boasts several excellent batting talents who can wreak havoc on the opposition in just a few balls. One such player is left-handed batsman Sherfane Rutherford, who is in excellent form and has played some impressive innings in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Rutherford has scored 169 runs in five innings so far, averaging 84.50 and striking at 181.72. Given his dominance, particularly in the death overs, Team India must develop a targeted, disciplined strategy to contain him.

2. Gudakesh Motie

Indian batters have faced difficulties against spinners in the T20 World Cup 2026. West Indies would also like to take advantage of this weakness, and for this reason, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie could prove to be a trump card. The Indian batting line-up has not played Motie much, so facing him will not be easy. The Caribbean spinner's bowling form is also good, and he has taken 10 wickets in six matches in the ongoing tournament so far. Motie has also been economical in giving away runs, with an economy rate of 7.75.

1. Shimron Hetmyer

Batting at No. 3, Shimron Hetmyer has emerged as a key performer in the T20 World Cup 2026 for the West Indies. He leads his side’s run-scoring charts with 221 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 44.20. He has scored two half-centuries and maintains a strike rate of 182.64 that highlights his aggressive intent and match-winning capability. Therefore, India will need to prevent him from settling at the crease. Allowing him time to build momentum could prove costly for the Indian bowling attack.

On the 30th encounter of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025, the Guyana Amazon Warriors locked horns with the Barbados Royals at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. The visiting captain, Rovman Powell, won the toss and decided to bowl first, having already been disqualified from the event. 

Guyana made just one change to the playing eleven as Shamar Joseph came in place of Hasan Khan. For then, a victory was needed to get among the top two spots of the points table. For the Royals, Eathan Bosch was benched with Kofi James getting a chance on the side.

Shimron Hetmyer fire Guyana Amazon Warriors to 189/6

Guyana’s opening batter, Ben McDermott, continued to struggle in the tournament before the wicket-keeper batter, Shai Hope, nailed 31 runs in 19 balls with the help of two sixes and one boundary. Quentin Sampson and Shimron Hetmyer posted a 50-run stand for the third wicket as the former nailed 50 runs in 36 balls with three fours and four sixes.

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Shimron Hetmyer, who got a first-ball duck in the previous contest, clubbed 68 runs in 39 balls, thanks to eight boundaries and three sixes at a strike rate of 174.36, to push the Warriors to 189/6 in their allotted 20 overs of the first innings.

Gudakesh Motie’s five-wicket haul completes 64-run victory

The Royals’ story of the entire tournament continued in the clash as they lost three wickets inside the first six overs of the innings. Sherfane Rutherford nailed 27 runs, but it took him 32 balls at a strike rate of under 85 with two over boundaries and one boundary.

The left-arm spinner, Gudakesh Motie, was excellent with his line and length and ended with a fine spell of 5/21 in 3.2 overs at an economy rate of 6.30 to bundle out the opponents for 125 in 18.2 overs. The 64-run win fired them to the second position in the points table.

Match Scorecard Summary-

Islamabad United and Multan Sultans have both lost players due to unavailability, with Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Short and West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie being unavailable for PSL 2025. Irish allrounder Curtis Campher will replace Motie for the Sultans, but United has not yet confirmed a replacement.

Short came to Pakistan at the beginning of the Pakisthan Super League with an injury he never fully recovered from. United said in a statement that he had been displaying "encouraging signs of the recovery" but complained of discomfort during training.

While the franchise, in conjunction with Cricket Australia's medical team, had tried to have him return to full fitness, the franchise has stated that a "joint decision" to return Short to Australia to resume his rehabilitation was made "in the best interest of the player's long-term fitness and career". United have had a perfect start to the tournament, winning all four of their opening games and currently sit at the top of the table.

Islamabad United stand behind Matt Short in recovery as Sultans wait for Motie's return after challenging start

"Islamabad United are completely committed to the welfare of all our players and offer support to Matt in his recovery," the statement added. "We appreciate his professionalism and good company in the camp and wish him a speedy and full recovery."

Sultans stated Motie had come back to Guyana "to deal with a domestic issue". Motie played none of the Sultans' first three games - all of which the team lost. Sultans will seek to turn their campaign around at home, with the PSL moving to Multan, where Mohammad Rizwan's team play their next two games against Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United.

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England captain Ben Stokes is now the third player in history to reach 200 wickets and 6,000 runs in Test cricket.

This summer, Stokes, who has fully returned to bowling, dismissed Kirk McKenzie for a duck with his third ball in the second innings, achieving his 200th wicket. McKenzie reviewed the decision, but it was confirmed to be hitting the stumps.

Stokes among elite all-rounders

Stokes joins Sir Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis as the only men to reach this milestone. He followed his wicket maiden with two more maidens and took his 201st wicket in his fourth over by getting Mikyle Louis caught behind for 14.

Earlier, Stokes added four runs to his total, bringing his tally to 6,316 runs in Test cricket for England. Gudakesh Motie bowled him in the morning session.

Ben Stokes bowling comeback

Stokes still has some catching up to do. Sobers has 8,032 runs and 235 wickets, while Kallis boasts an impressive 13,289 runs and 292 wickets.

Stokes was born in New Zealand and took his 100th wicket against India in August 2018. His return to bowling after knee surgery has been a significant boost for the England Test team.