In a stirring call to arms, BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia has pointed to Jammu & Kashmir’s groundbreaking Ranji Trophy victory as the perfect blueprint for India’s do-or-die T20 World Cup Super-8 match against West Indies. Captain Suryakumar Yadav’s men are set to clash with the Caribbean powerhouse at Eden Gardens on Sunday, with a semifinal berth hanging in the balance.
The Ranji final in Hubli witnessed magic on Saturday as J&K overcame mighty Karnataka—eight-time winners—thanks to a commanding first-innings advantage. This David vs Goliath tale has electrified the cricket fraternity, and Saikia wants Team India to harness that same unyielding spirit.
‘J&K showed us that cricket rewards the bold,’ Saikia told media. ‘Beating Karnataka at home was monumental. Now, our boys have a similar opportunity in Kolkata. Expect them to rise to the occasion and deliver performances that will echo through the nation.’
India’s recent form adds firepower to the optimism. They crushed Zimbabwe by 72 runs on Thursday, setting a T20 World Cup record with 256/4. Standout contributions came from Abhishek Sharma (55 off 30), Hardik Pandya (50* off 23), and Tilak Varma (44 off 16). Zimbabwe crumbled to 184/6 chasing the target.
Prior to this, India suffered a 76-run defeat to South Africa in their Super-8 opener. Saikia’s words resonate as the team looks to turn inspiration into action, aiming to conquer West Indies and march towards glory.