West Indies continued their unbeaten run in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a clinical 107-run victory over Zimbabwe at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Anil Kumble, Varun Aaron, and West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer spoke about the approach the Windies took against the opposition, while also explaining India’s chances ahead of the tournament.
Anil Kumble weighed in on West Indies’ performance:
“West Indies understand what it takes to win at this stage of the tournament. The left-arm spinners were outstanding. Gudakesh Motie bowled brilliantly. In this format, finger spinners often try to stay away from the batter’s hitting arc, but Motie and Akeal Hosein were different. Shimron Hetmyer has long been a finisher and knows how to clear the boundaries. He has the power and the temperament. What stands out is that he doesn’t settle for quick cameos of 20 or 30. He converts them into substantial scores. Had he fallen for 30, perhaps West Indies wouldn’t have reached 254, and Zimbabwe might have found a way back. Rovman Powell is again a proven power-hitter. He took his time initially, his first 10 runs came off 10 balls, but once he settled, he was unstoppable. He strikes the ball extremely hard. Even when it goes straight to a fielder, it’s not easy to stop.”
On the road ahead for India in the tournament:
“Every game counts at this stage. India suffered a significant loss to South Africa, and it wasn’t just about losing, but the manner of that defeat. The key question now is whether they can bounce back strongly against Zimbabwe. India need to win convincingly, much like West Indies did against Zimbabwe, to improve their net run-rate. After that, they must beat West Indies as well. The primary focus should be on winning both matches. The net run-rate will naturally improve if they are in control of the game.”
Varun Aaron spoke about India’s chances of progressing further in the tournament:
“India shouldn’t be looking at other teams to do them any favours. This was their first World Cup defeat in a long time and such setbacks can happen. But from hereon, it has to be a ‘go hard or go home’ approach. Before the World Cup, India had changed their style of play, but in this tournament, they’ve looked slightly tentative, not by choice, but largely because they’ve been losing their main batter in the first over in almost every game. If Abhishek Sharma comes good at the top, it will make life significantly easier for the middle order.”
Shimron Hetmyer spoke about his batting approach and camaraderie within the team:
“The team is enjoying each other’s company a lot more now. Earlier, some guys may have been hesitant to speak openly, but now, we challenge each other in the nets and even on the way to the ground to keep improving. That brings out the best in everyone. Personally, I’m trying to think less at the crease. Once I’m in my zone, I go as hard as I can. If it comes off, great. If not, I keep working. I focus on playing my shots rather than worrying too much about field placements. When I look to clear the boundary, I just tell myself to get enough of the bat on the ball. The wickets are good and the boundaries aren’t massive, so even half a connection can be enough. I try to put pressure back on the bowler. If I do that, they’ll end up giving me scoring opportunities instead of me searching for singles. The key is to play with the same mindset as before. If it’s your day, it’s your day. If not, you keep trying.”
