West Indies will clash with India on Thursday in the second semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup that is currently being played in India.
While both teams are considered favourites to win the entire tournament, the semi final clash is even greater since most of the top T20 West Indian players ply their trades in the India Premier League (IPL).
Deemed as the most pivotal clash of the tournament as the winner of this semifinal is projected as the winner of the World Cup, the more underlying story in that of India’s biggest treasure in Virat Kohli battling against one of India’s most likable superstars outside of the sub-continent nation in Chris Gayle.
Cricket observers say that knowing West Indies’ unpredictable nature, safe money would be on India to win the match but the explosion that is the West Indies can easily upset an India squad also know for faltering at times.
Kohli, a proven match winner especially in critical situations will have to combat the power and brute force of Gayle that exploded for 100 not out against England at the very Wankhede Stadium in Windies’ opening match earlier this month.
Nevertheless the variables are too much to really pick a clear winner, will India have enough bowling to stop Gayle and the likes of Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons and Johnson Charles or will the West Indies stay disciplined enough to keep an all-round India squad at bay.
However, the showdown is much more than nation versus nation, it is superstar versus superstar, loved versus beloved, wittiness versus power, Kohli versus Gayle.
The match represents two men on a mission to prove their superiority not just to their nation and fans but to themselves and the cricketing world moreover.
This will be no David versus Goliath story, just two titans butting heads for a prized championship.
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