DHAKA: Their sagging morale lifted after a thumping win over Pakistan, Indian spinners will now have to brace for the ever-dangerous Chris Gayle when the team squares off against defending champions West Indies in the World Twenty20 here on Sunday at 7:00pm IST.
There was a small tit-for-tat exchange of words between Suresh Raina and Darren Sammy, adding to the thrill of the match.
Raina kicked things off by saying at a press conference, “West Indies will be a totally different team as they have a lot of players who can hit sixes but they don’t have an idea about how to rotate the strike against spinners by taking singles and twos.”
Sammy, understandbly, was not amused.
“We don’t care much about what Raina thinks. If he thinks we are only six hitters, then stop us from hitting sixes,” Sammy said in response during a separate press conference.
As usual, the affable West Indies skipper seemed to be in good mood as he answered the questions with a bit of fun and a lot of seriousness.
What’s there on Chris Gayle’s mind, asked a scribe. “I am not Jesus Christ! I don’t know what’s going on in his mind,” he laughed and replied.
Then he got serious. “But I know he (Gayle) is really pumped up to play here. Whenever he is playing for the West Indies, he is very pumped up. And tomorrow’s game everyone will be pumped up.”
Elaborating on the role of tweakers, Raina said that overs 7-11 will be key against the slower bowlers.
“About facing spinners, it’s not that there is great turn (on this track) but some turn available. While shaping up for a shot, you need to come under the ball.
“Your thought-process should be clear. If you think you want to hit it then you should go ahead and if you decide against it then be it. Between 7 to 11 overs, is the time when you need to rotate the strike well. If you get even one loose ball, if you can convert it into fours and sixes, then it’s good.”
The other match of the day will see Australia play in their first outing against Pakistan at 3:00pm IST also in Dhaka. (PTI)
