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West Indies Cricket Team [Source: X]
The T20 World Cup 2026 saw the rise of the Caribbean once again after a string of early group stage exits in earlier mega ICC events. The West Indies, under captain Shai Hope, have made it to the Super 8 of this edition of the World Cup, but was it enough?
West Indies’ campaign was marked by an unbeaten run in the group stage, with explosive batters like Shimron Hetmyer dominating every team with his individual brilliance. The power-hitting ability from top to bottom made them serious threats and strong contenders for the title, especially given their rich T20 history, having won the silverware in 2012 and 2016.
However, the Super 8 stage has tested their true form. After a fluent win against Zimbabwe, a heavy defeat at the hands of South Africa in Ahmedabad exposed several vulnerabilities. The Proteas dominated the contest, winning by nine wickets with several balls to spare.
This result has shifted the West Indies’ narrative from dominance to doubt, raising questions about their ability to handle the pressure of top-tier matches.
Performance Recap of West Indies in T20 World Cup 2026
West Indies began their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on a very strong note, finishing unbeaten in Group C clashes. They began domination with a 35-run win over Scotland on February 7, followed by a strong 30-run victory against England.
The momentum continued as they defeated Nepal by nine wickets later, chasing comfortably with 28 balls to spare. They sealed their group stage with a convincing 42-run win over Italy, then ended the group stage with a great unbeaten run and a confidence too high to be dented.
Carrying that form into the Super Eights, West Indies delivered a commanding 107-run win over a high-spirited Zimbabwe, looking only onwards and upwards before they fell face down. South Africa exposed the Windies on a tough Ahmedabad pitch where Shai Hope’s men visibly struggled to connect shots and were dismissed cluelessly.
Also Read: Dominant South Africa Cruise Past West Indies As They Inch Closer To T20 World Cup Semi-Finals
Lucky Passes Till Super 8?
The progress of West Indies to the Super 8 seemed a bit lucky at times, but it was complemented by their good performances. Their passage till then, was quite flawless without interruptions.
They had eight points, and their progress was not so difficult, considering that England choked while chasing 197 runs against the Windies. If West Indies had not been so lucky, England would have won that much.
West Indies entered the Super 8 unbeaten, but the "lucky passes" ended here since they were not up against the best teams yet. Their high NRR rate was a big plus, but their real test came after they won against Zimbabwe and then fell flat.
What Went Wrong Against South Africa?
The West Indies vs South Africa match at Narendra Modi Stadium was a wake-up call in terms of execution. Batting first after South Africa chose to field, West Indies were reduced to 83/7 in the 11th over, thanks to disciplined pace bowling by Lungi Ngidi (3/30) and Kagiso Rabada (2/22).
The top-order weakness was exposed and how. Every batter struggled from Hetmyer to Hope both of whom scored 2 and 16 runs respectively.
However, a late show by Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder helped them recover to 176/8, but it was too little, too late.
The South Africa chase was clinical. Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, and captain Aiden Markram's unbeaten 82* off 46 balls tore apart the required target in just 16.1 overs.
West Indies' bowling lacked penetration. Matthew Forde, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, and Shamar Joseph, all primary bowlers, went wicketless while conceding more than 20 runs in their spells.
Only Roston Chase managed to take the wicket of Quinton de Kock, but by then Aiden Markram and Rickelton had already done the damage to steer South Africa to victory.
Overall, the West Indies pace attack looked inactive and ineffective against a clinical South Africa side, who have dominated the T20 World Cup 2026 so far with an unbeaten streak.
Can West Indies Emerge Out of The Doom At Eden Gardens?
The West Indies, however, now have a do-or-die situation in their upcoming encounter against India at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, if they are to remain in the running for a semi-final spot.
West Indies currently have two points from one win and one loss, level with India. A win will certainly move them ahead, capitalising on their powerful batting lineup in a ground that lends itself to high-scoring matches.
The Eden Gardens has traditionally been a ground that favours big hitters, and given the fact that both India and the West Indies are unbeaten at the Eden Gardens in T20 World Cup history, it will be a battle of the best on March 1.
While the West Indies will rely on the late-bash heroics and early whirlwinds of Hetmyer and Brandon King, a win will be crucial if they want to prove themselves as world beaters once again and bring themselves to the forefront of cricketing folklore, rather than being seen as a team that just had a few lucky breaks.
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