T20 World Cup | WI vs SL: In dire conditions, defending champions face pride searching Sri Lankans

The defending champions haven’t played a single game which suggests that they are the defending champions. They however managed to win against Bangladesh and kept their hopes of making it to the next round alive. It is that victory from seven days ago that would act as an inspiration for the West Indian unit full of T20 superstars to try and live another day and take the race for the second semi-final spot from Group A to the very last day of the group stage. 

The Kieron Pollard led team would face Sri Lanka in their quest to keep the dream alive. The Sri Lankans have goals of their own as even after coming extremely close to beating South Africa and England, they remained agonizingly far. Now playing in their last game, the Lankan Lions would look to get one win in their kitty before moving out of the tournament. 

What's at stake?

For West Indies, everything is at stake as they would not only just want to win this game to show that they are still one of the best sides in the world in terms of T20 cricket, but would also look to remain in contention. If it were up to them, they would have liked to win it big and improve the net run rate too, but for now, only a win would do more than good as that would keep them alive till their last Super 12 game. 

For Sri Lanka, more than anything it is about a stamp on their progression as a young unit. They have been in positions of victory, but they haven’t been able to seal it. Hence to win here and bow out would do a great amount of good to them as well as to the coach Mickey Arthur. 

What needs to change?

For West Indies, the thing that needs to change is their approach while batting. Just like Virat Kohli said that his batters were not fearless in their approach in the first two games, similarly, the Windies team management needs to convey to their batters that they can bat fearlessly and must do it now.  

For Sri Lanka, the problem is of playing a balanced XI. It is now mind-numbingly outrageous as to why and how a player of the quality of Dhananjaya de Silva is not being given a chance in place of Avishka Fernando who has failed continuously in all games that he has played so far. Similarly, Lahiru Kumara has been thrashed in the last few games and he needs to be rested as well. Maybe one more shot to Binura Fernando would do some good. 

West Indies vs Sri Lanka: Match Details

Match Number - 34

Date and Time: November 04, 2021, 07:30 pm IST, 06:00 pm Local, 02:00 pm IST

Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Broadcast and Livestream: Star Sports and Hotstar

Pitch Report

The wicket at Abi Dhabi in the India-Afghanistan game was a pure batting luxury with the bat coming on the ball very nicely. If the match is played on that same wicket, of which there is a very high possibility, then it could be high scoring game if the teams bat sensibly. 

Weather Forecast

The temperature at the stadium will fall from 30-degree Celsius at 06:00 pm to 28-degree Celsius by 10:00 pm and similarly, the humidity will increase from 52% to 57% meaning that there would be dew in the wicket, but not as much as it has been in Sharjah, Dubai and even Abu Dhabi. 

Team News

West Indies

For West Indies, they might think of playing Andre Fletcher in place of Chris Gayle, but that’s an option that Pollard might be hesitant with given the fact that the team won the last game and he would like to keep the winning team. 

Probable XI

Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard (c), Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul

Sri Lanka

If there is any ego tussle that coach Arthur is having with de Silve and thus is unable to replace Avishka Fernando, then he must set it aside for the good of the team. Even batting Fernando at number four makes no sense as he is an opener and must bat up the order. Instead, he could rather open with Kusal Perera, if he has to play and Nissanka can play at number three with Chairth Asalanka coming at number four. 

Probable XI

Kusal Perera (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara

CE XI Fantasy team

Wicketkeepers Nicholas Pooran

Batters Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Evin Lewis

All-rounders Wanindu Hasaranga, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Jason Holder

Bowlers Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Akeal Hosein

Vice-Captain Jason Holder

Captain Wanindu Hasaranga