Kolkata’s Eden Gardens is set for a high-stakes showdown on Sunday as India faces West Indies in a do-or-die Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2026. Victory here means a direct ticket to the semifinals, but with monsoon clouds looming, fans are eyeing the weather forecast closely.
No reserve day has been scheduled for Super 8 matches under ICC rules. If rain washes out the India-West Indies game, net run rate (NRR) will decide the fate. West Indies holds a commanding +1.791 NRR, dwarfing India’s -0.100. A no-result would hand the Caribbean side the semifinal berth, spelling heartbreak for Team India.
Recent form offers some hope for Indian supporters. After a shocking 76-run loss to South Africa in their Super 8 opener, India bounced back spectacularly against Zimbabwe on Thursday. Batting first, they smashed a T20 World Cup record 256/4 in 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma’s 55 laid the foundation, Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 50 off 23 balls added fireworks, and Tilak Varma’s explosive 44 off 16 accelerated the innings.
Zimbabwe crumbled chasing 257, managing only 184/6. Arshdeep Singh starred with 3/24, while Varun Chakaravarti and Axar Patel chipped in with one wicket each. Brian Bennett’s gritty 97 off 59 kept them in the hunt, but it wasn’t enough.
West Indies, meanwhile, suffered a humiliating 9-wicket defeat to South Africa in their last outing. The pressure is immense on Suryakumar Yadav’s men.
Good news on the weather front: Kolkata forecasts clear skies for Sunday. Daytime temperatures will hover around 34°C, dropping to 25-26°C during the evening match. India must win convincingly to boost their NRR and secure progression, regardless of the elements.