New Delhi, March 1 – As India prepares for a must-win match against the West Indies, former cricketer Manoj Tiwary has issued a lighthearted warning to the "Men in Blue," suggesting that they might struggle to secure IPL contracts if they fail to defeat the Caribbean side in their crucial Super 8 match at Eden Gardens on Sunday evening.
The Super 8 contest between India and the West Indies will effectively be a quarter-final, with the winner progressing to the semi-finals and the loser being eliminated from the tournament. Both teams are tied on two points from as many matches, having secured comprehensive victories over Zimbabwe and suffered defeats to South Africa in the Super Eight stage.
Speaking during a discussion on Cricbuzz, Tiwary expressed confidence in India's chances while also commenting on the outcome of their loss.
"India scored 256 in their last match, so they should definitely go through. There's no pressure at all. The expectation would be to score over 200 and easily defeat the West Indies. If they can't defeat the West Indies, no one will get IPL contracts," Tiwary said with a smile.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag, who was also part of the discussion, offered a more cautious perspective, stating that no team can be taken lightly in a global tournament.
"It can happen; it's not as if we are invincible and cannot lose to anyone. The other team is also here to play and win. You had one bad day; you lost that day to South Africa. Then we defeated Zimbabwe, and now if we defeat the West Indies, we will qualify with ease," Sehwag said.
He also highlighted the emotional reactions of fans following India’s defeat to South Africa.
"Our country is quite emotional; they get emotional quickly. After losing just one match, people were reacting as if we had lost the World Cup," he added.
England, New Zealand, and South Africa have already secured their spots in the semi-finals, leaving one remaining spot to be decided between India and the West Indies in Sunday's high-stakes encounter.
