MUMBAI, India, CMC- Flamboyant opener Chris Gayle says he wants to score a ‘big one’ for West Indies when they take on favourites India in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup tomorrow.
Gayle blasted a 47-ball unbeaten century in West Indies opening game against England but has since batted just once against South Africa when he made four from two balls.
An injury in the field against Sri Lanka prevented him from batting in the second game, and against Afghanistan he was rested as a precaution ahead of the semi-final.
“For the tournament so far, I have only batted twice so I haven’t really got a knock in all four games,” said Gayle.
“But this is a perfect opportunity to actually start the tournament and try and pick up where I left off, get a big one for the team and put them in a winning position. If it doesn’t happen someone should actually be able to pick it up and take West Indies to victory.”
India are going into the semi-final match against third ranked West Indies as the favourites and top ranked team
following the latest ICC T20 rankings.
Gayle has acknowledged India as tournament favourites but says he is “looking to attack” and West Indies are ready to produce “an upset” when the two team meet.
“They have made some momentum. There’s no doubt about it they have the momentum and a lot of confidence coming into this game as well,” said Gayle to a handful of journalists before West Indies’ training session at the CCI yesterday.
“It is very difficult to pinpoint one particular player in the Indian team. It is a very good all-round team, good fielding team as well. That’s why India is the favourite. It is always going to be difficult to beat them here, but like I said for West Indies the upset is ready.”
West Indies have reached the semi-finals with a hat-trick of wins and with help from the likes of Samuel Badree and Dwayne Bravo who have taken six wickets each.
Key roles have also been played by Andre Russell with seven wickets and Sulieman Benn who has just one wicket to his credit but with the lowest economy rate of the tournament, 4.93.
West Indies have lost a number of top players the likes of Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine.
Media reports have been quoting WICB management as saying exciting opener Lendl Simmons, who withdrew from the squad because of an injury, has been called-up to replace Andre Fletcher who sustained an injury against Afghanistan Sunday.
“If you look at the back-up, the guys who came in for the key players, they have actually played a tremendous part as well. So that goes to show the strength of West Indies cricket back home,” he said.
“The guys who actually replaced the first picks, someone like Carlos Brathwaite, he won us the game against South Africa. So those guys are playing a big part and the bench is still strong enough. We have a lot of match-winners, the No. 1 bowler Badree, who is doing a fantastic job and Suleiman Benn backed up Dwayne Bravo, Russell and the rest of the bowlers”.
