West Indies Playing XI vs India - T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8

West Indies cricket team [Source: X]

West Indies and India are set to lock horns in a crucial clash on March 1. In their final T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match, the two sides will meet on Sunday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with the game scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST.

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With both India and West Indies in strong form, each having just one loss in the Super 8 stage, the match has turned into a do-or-die encounter. The contest promises to be highly exciting, as the losing team will be eliminated from the tournament, while the winner will advance to the semi-finals alongside South Africa.

Adding to the thrill is the fact that neither team has ever lost a T20 World Cup match at Eden Gardens. Hence, while both teams are ready to battle for a semi-final spot, West Indies may rejig their playing XI ahead of the crucial match to exploit India’s late-stage vulnerabilities.

Let’s take a look at the possible changes the Caribbeans could make to their lineup before the Kolkata showdown.

West Indies Playing XI vs India- Super 8

Openers and Top Order– Brandon King, Shai Hope (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell

Brandon King has been struggling for form in this T20 World Cup as an opener, registering several single-digit scores. However, West Indies are unlikely to replace him with Johnson Charles.

Even though King has struggled at times, Shai Hope has provided stability alongside him and can be explosive with the bat, given his average of 37 in this tournament. Hence, no experimentation is needed with the opening pair.

Shimron Hetmyer, as usual, will be an explosive option at No. 3 and can boost West Indies’ run rate after any early stumbles. Rovman Powell, too, has been in and out of form but played a crucial knock against Zimbabwe with his 35-ball 59. Hence, he is likely to be entrusted with the No. 4 role, playing either as an anchor or an accelerator, depending on the phase of the match.

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Middle Order and All Rounders– Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd

Roston Chase has made more of an impact with the ball than with the bat this tournament; however, his crucial role in the middle order cannot be outrightly dismissed.

Chase can be a key asset at No. 5 to cushion any early hiccups. Though he is not known for power-hitting, his ability to rotate the strike can complement the powerful strokes of Sherfane Rutherford, who will follow at No. 6.

Rutherford’s exploits in this T20 World Cup have been breathtaking. He averages 84.50 from his five appearances, which include scores of 76 off 42 balls and 31 off 13 balls. Hence, he will be an exciting prospect for the West Indies against India, especially at the Eden Gardens.

Romario Shepherd, more of a fast-bowling all-rounder, also possesses big-hitting abilities and can pack a punch late in the middle order. His 37-ball 52 stunned South Africa in the Super 8 game, and he now averages 80 from his four matches. With the ball, he has scalped six wickets from three matches, further cementing his case to feature in the playing XI.

Bowlers– Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie and Shamar Joseph

The bowling lineup is where West Indies can make some interesting changes, especially for the Eden Gardens pitch. Although Kolkata generally offers slow surfaces, recent reports suggest it could feature some green patches, which may assist fast bowlers early on and spinners later in the game.

This changes the dynamics, as West Indies are already loaded with pace options in Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, and Shamar Joseph.

Alongside these power-packed bowlers, a crucial inclusion should be Akeal Hosein, who has not featured much in the T20 World Cup 2026 despite picking up six wickets from five innings.

Instead of Matthew Forde, Hosein could be a strong option, as his left-arm spin alongside Gudakesh Motie could trouble batters like Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, and Hardik Pandya, the core of India’s middle order. Meanwhile, Roston Chase could target Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, and Abhishek Sharma.

A good match-up scenario would highlight India’s recent struggles against spin, which could play into the West Indies’ advantage.

West Indies Probable Playing XI vs India: Super 8, T20 World Cup 2026- Brandon King, Shai Hope (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph

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