‘India not going to hold back’: Zimbabwe coach Justin Sammons braces for aggressive backlash in do-or-die Super 8 clash

NEW DELHI: Zimbabwe head coach Justin Sammons expects an aggressive backlash from India when the two sides meet in a crucial Super Eight clash of the T20 World Cup in Chennai on Thursday, warning that his players must be ready for a similar onslaught that dismantled them on Monday.

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Zimbabwe’s confidence took a major hit after a crushing 107-run defeat to the West Indies, who piled up a tournament-defining 254/6. The heavy loss exposed Zimbabwe’s tactical shortcomings, but Sammons believes the painful experience could prove valuable as they prepare to face an Indian side wounded by their own defeat to South Africa.




"We know the way India is going to come out and it's going to be very similar to the way West Indies approached their innings. They're (India) not going to hold back," Sammons said after the match.

His warning comes as India arrive at the MA Chidambaram Stadium under pressure, desperate to stay alive in the tournament. Zimbabwe, despite being labelled underdogs, remain determined to challenge one of the tournament favourites.

"There will be good learnings from that and how we deal with that, under pressure in the moment, how do we stay calm and just think on our feet and also just try and change things up a little bit, disrupt the rhythm of the batters," he added.


Sammons admitted Zimbabwe’s bowlers were too predictable against the West Indies, a flaw they must urgently fix to counter India’s explosive batting lineup led by Suryakumar Yadav.

"...we can be a little bit smarter in that regard. Chennai will be a bit bigger (ground) and it probably will be a little bit more at ease in that aspect there," he said.

Conditions in Chennai could play a decisive role. Traditionally known for assisting slower bowlers, the relaid surface has behaved differently during this tournament, offering better pace and bounce. This could challenge Zimbabwe’s pace-off specialists such as Sikandar Raza and Blessing Muzarabani, who thrive on sluggish tracks.


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