The stage is set for the big semifinal - India vs West Indies -- of the ICC World T20 2016 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Thursday. After bouncing back to pick up three wins in a row, India will start this game as the favourites.
However, West Indies also have a lot of firepower in their ranks. Most of their players are seasoned T20 cricketers, who love playing the shortest format of the game.
Below are the key battles of the India vs West Indies semifinal:
Virat Kohli vs Samuel Badree: The No.1 T20 batsman vs the No.1 T20 bowler - this is going to be really interesting. Virat Kohli is a brilliant player of spin bowling and Badree does not like to leak runs. The leggie has been very good, especially in the Powerplay overs. He has picked up 6 wickets in four matches at an outstanding economy rate of 5.46 runs per over. Meanwhile, Kohli showed the world why he is one of the best in business in the matchwinning knock against Australia. Kohli likes to take on the spinners and it will be interesting to see how Badree handles the right-hander.
MS Dhoni vs Dwayne Bravo: The greatest finisher of the game still has it in him. Dhoni loves to hit those big sixes towards the end of the innings and none other than Dwayne Bravo will have to counter his former Chennai Super Kings teammate. Bravo's slower ones are really deceptive and he has managed to fox some of the best players.
Chris Gayle vs R Ashwin: Gayle is not really comfortable when it comes to playing conventional off-spinners. MS Dhoni is likely to throw the ball to Ashwin to try and snuff out any chances of a 'Gayle Storm'. Ashwin will be raring to bounce back after a poor show against Australia. Gayle is aware of Ashwin's abilities, but if the big Jamaican gets going, Ashwin will have a serious battle on his hands.
Andre Russell vs Jasprit Bumrah: 'Dre Russ', as Russell is also known, can hit the ball out of the park with ease. He can do some serious damage in the death overs. To tackle someone like Russell, Dhoni has to use the death overs specialist Bumrah, who can bowl accurate yorkers. The stumps doing a cart-wheel is always a wonderful sight for the seamers and the ball sailing over the boundary is what the big-hitters want. Both Bumrah and Russell will hope to end up on the winning side of the battle.
