With the flat wicket in Mumbai`s Wankhede Stadium, it will be a dream for Kohli and Gayle.
Mumbai: Chris Gayle is determined to take the global
spotlight back Twenty20 Virat Kohli form when the shock of the West Indies and India in a mouthwatering semi-final in Mumbai on Thursday.
The destructive opener broke an unbeaten century, which
included 11 sixes in West Indies` initial victory against England, but has
batted only once since, so only four.
Kohli has been the star of the tournament so far, India
expert guidance through the group stage with a half century against Pakistan
and 82 not out in the victory over Australia contraction
With the flat wicket at the Wankhede Stadium Mumbai`s a dream for hitters, the last-four clash between the hosts and champions 2012 is set to be a battle of the big hitters.
"I'm looking to show what Chris Gayle is," Gayle
said ominously on Tuesday.
"I've only it hit twice, but this (semifinal) is a
perfect opportunity to really start the tournament and try to continue where I
left off, get a great for the team and put them in a winning position," he
added.
The 36-year-old Kohli, which is the period leading scorer
left in the tournament with 184, as a "world champion", but insisted
that neither he nor the West Indies were concerned about individual players
described .
"Chris Gayle will always be positive. No matter what
bowler bowling against Chris Gayle," he said.
"Chris Gayle attack. Ese` nature of T20 cricket. And
that 's the nature of Chris Gayle.
"No names, just cricket ball, beat him as hard as
possible," Gayle added.India are looking to take another step in its goal
to become the first team to win the World T20 twice, after his triumph in the
first edition of 2007, and the first in his homeland.
They are also bidding to give inspirational captain 34 years
old, Mahendra Singh Dhoni - that is despite being close to announcing his
retirement - the opportunity to leave on a high.
India were shocked by New Zealand in their first match, but
took three straight wins to qualify second in Group Two.
By contrast, the Windies won their first three games to top
Group One, before being hit by minnows Afghanistan.
Gayle believes that India has the momentum, but warned that
"anything was possible".
"India is the favorite. Always going to be hard to beat
them here. But the West Indies are prepared for the surprise," he said.
The Windies preparations suffered a blow with the
announcement that Andre Fletcher, whose unbeaten 84 fired his team to victory
over Sri Lanka, has ruled out the rest of the tournament with a thigh injury.
Fletcher has been replaced by Lendl Simmons, who has a
second chance to participate being originally named in the team, but having to
withdraw on the eve of the tournament with a back injury.
India meanwhile are sweating on the fitness of left-handed
batsman Yuvraj Singh, who injured his ankle against the Australians. Ajinkya
Rahane and Manish Pandey are ready to replace it.
"I don`t know if we make changes, but it is possible,
depending on the window," Dhoni said earlier this week.
Teams
India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Ravichandran
Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat
Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Pawan Negi, Ashish Nehra, Hardik Pandya, Ajinkya Rahane,
Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma , Yuvraj Singh.
West Indies (from): Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree,
Suleiman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Lendl Simmons,
Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon
Samuels, Jerome Taylor , Evin Lewis.
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