Echoes of Jammu & Kashmir’s historic Ranji Trophy conquest are reverberating through the Indian camp as BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia motivates the team for Sunday’s crucial T20 World Cup Super-8 finale against West Indies at Eden Gardens. Victory here catapults Suryakumar Yadav’s men straight to the semifinals.
On Saturday, J&K etched their name in folklore by toppling Karnataka—the eight-time champions—with a decisive first-innings edge at Hubli. Saikia believes this underdog story is tailor-made inspiration for India facing the seasoned West Indies.
‘J&K’s win over Karnataka on their patch is a testament to self-belief,’ Saikia remarked. ‘Our Super-8 decider in Kolkata demands the same. The players will unleash their finest to honor the tricolor.’
India’s Thursday demolition of Zimbabwe by 72 runs showcased firepower: 256/4 in 20 overs, a T20 World Cup record. Abhishek Sharma’s 55 (30 balls), Tilak Varma’s 44 (16), and Hardik Pandya’s 50* (23) overwhelmed the opposition, who folded at 184/6.
This followed a 76-run Super-8 setback against South Africa. With J&K’s blueprint and surging form, India stands ready to seize the moment against West Indies and propel towards T20 glory.