Tilak and Abhishek bat long, Bumrah shines his yorker game: Here's what happened in India's practice ahead of the West Indies clash
Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens is set for a thrilling Super 8 clash between India and West Indies in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, with a semifinal berth at stake.
Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav had an extended batting session (Image Credit: BCCI)
Last Updated: 08.17 PM, Feb 28, 2026
Kolkata: Te stage is set at the iconic Eden Gardens for one of the biggest games of Super 8 as India and West Indies face each other in a virtual quarter-final in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in Kolkata on Sunday.
With a semifinal spot on the line, both teams have launched a mix of intense preparation and psychological fight. West Indies head coach Darren Sammy, returning to the venue where he famously lifted the trophy in 2016, warned that his "soldiers are ready for battle." Meanwhile, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate encouraged the Indian squad to "embrace the pressure" rather than mask it, promising to "fight fire with fire" against the West Indian power-hitters.
Tilak bats for long; Rinku to join the team tonight
India’s optional practice session today saw a nearly full house, with the notable exceptions of all-rounder Hardik Pandya and keeper-batter Sanju Samson.
Before the practice session started, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate remarked that Rinku Singh will rejoin the squad tonight following the passing of his father. Despite the personal tragedy, Rinku is reportedly available for selection tomorrow.
On the field, the focus was clearly on fine-tuning specific skill sets of Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan, who had an extended session, while Suryakumar Yadav joined later for a focused 40-minute stint with the bat in hand.
To prepare for the West Indian spin threat, Tilak Varma engaged in one-on-one "spin-hitting" drills against Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel at the other nets. Meantime, Axar was also seen spending significant time with both bat and ball during the practice session.
Read also: T20 World Cup 2026: Equation for India to qualify for the semis after the win against Zimbabwe.
Bumrah and Varun fine-tuned their skills
Along with the batters, the bowling department also saw a specialised focus on death-overs execution.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were seen practising wide yorkers at the centre nets, while Shivam Dube was seen hitting the hard lengths against Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma. who also rolled his arm over.
Local favourite Varun Chakaravarthy, who understands the Eden Gardens surface intimately through his years with KKR, bowled for a prolonged session alongside Bumrah, both focusing on hitting specific targets.
Read also: "Fight fire with fire": Ryan ten Doeschate urges India to embrace the pressure at Eden Gardens.
How to watch the India vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2026 match?
Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2026 match on JioHotstar, accessible via OTTplay Premium.