Team India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate stated that the Men in Blue will ‘fight fire with fire’ in the do-or-die T20 World Cup 2026 match against the West Indies in Kolkata. Admitting that the Windies’ power-packed batting line-up with challenge India, Ten Doeschate added that the defending champions must look to keep chipping away at the wickets, just like how South Africa did.

India will meet the West Indies at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, March 1. This Group 1 Super 8 clash is a winners-take-all contest. The victorious side will progress to the semifinals, while the losing side will be eliminated.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Ten Doeschate asserted that Team India will go all out to try and get the better of the West Indies on Sunday. Sharing his thoughts ahead of the big game, he said (via India Today):

“West Indies always give everything in T20 competitions. It is a major focus for them. But it is a challenge we are relishing. We will fight fire with fire tomorrow, and it should be a really good game.”

The former Netherlands cricketer agreed that the West Indies are strong in the batting department, with the big-hitting Romario Shepherd coming in at No. 9. He, however, added that most teams now have depth in batting in T20Is. He said:

“I do not think there are many line-ups that can boast someone like Romario Shepherd walking in at No. 9. But that is also a feature of all the teams in the tournament now, especially the teams that have done well. England bat really deep, New Zealand bat really deep, India bat really deep. We have the luxury of someone like Axar coming in late if he does not come in early.”

Ten Doeschate also opined that the West Indies batters are known for taking risks, which will give their bowlers opportunities in the game on Sunday. He elaborated:

“You have to focus on taking wickets. We feel West Indies play a high risk-reward game, and as a bowling unit we are really looking forward to that challenge. We know there are opportunities where we can get wickets and peg them back in that way, much like South Africa did.”

The West Indies went down to South Africa by nine wickets in their previous Super 8 game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Batting first, the Windies crumbled to 83-7. An eighth-wicket stand of 89 between Shepherd and Jason Holder lifted them past the 170-run mark, but it wasn’t enough in the end.

“Could be a high-scoring game” – Ryan ten Doeschate on IND vs WI T20 World Cup 2026

Pitches have been a big talking point in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. India have struggles on surfaces where the ball has not come onto the bat nicely. However, in the previous match in Chennai, they posted 250-plus against Zimbabwe on a batting-friendly surface. Sharing his thoughts on the Kolkata strip, Ten Doeschate commented:

“The surface looks pretty good, so it could be a high-scoring game. As well as throwing punches with the ball, we will have to make sure we are brave with the bat and maintain a high strike rate and intent throughout.”

England and South Africa have already qualified for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2026. Either New Zealand or Pakistan will join them depending on the result of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka game. The winner of the India vs West Indies game will then become the last team to qualify for the knockouts.