The T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage intensifies with India’s crucial encounter against West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday. A win catapults either team into the semifinals, but persistent rain in Kolkata could turn the match into a net run rate battle.
ICC tournaments skip reserve days for Super 8 games, making weather a potential game-changer. Should the fixture be abandoned, West Indies’ superior +1.791 NRR trumps India’s -0.100, gifting them semifinal qualification.
India’s campaign has been a rollercoaster. A 76-run thrashing by South Africa was followed by a dominant 72-run victory over Zimbabwe. Openers set the tone, but the middle order exploded: Abhishek Sharma (55), Hardik Pandya (50* off 23), and Tilak Varma (44 off 16) propelled India to an unprecedented 256/4 – the highest T20 World Cup total ever.
Defending it, Arshdeep Singh’s 3/24 dismantled Zimbabwe, who folded at 184/6 despite Brian Bennett’s valiant 97. West Indies enters on the back of a 9-wicket loss to South Africa, desperate for redemption.
Meteorologists predict minimal rain risk. Expect balmy 34°C daytime highs, cooling to 25-26°C for the match. For India, only a decisive win can salvage their NRR and path to glory. The stage is set for a thriller – weather permitting.