[WATCH] T20 World Cup 2026: Ahmed Shehzad makes bold prediction that he will back India ahead of clash against West Indies

Shehzad’s prediction came in response to former Pakistan pacer Mohammed Amir, who suggested India could be eliminated in the Super 8 stage. Shehzad strongly disagreed and not only refuted Amir’s claim but also raised the stakes around his own prediction.

“If India wins the match, we will take over the title of ‘astrologer’ from Amir. And if India fails to reach the semi-finals, I will quit this show,” Shehzad said on the show ‘Haarna Mana Hai’.

This edition of the T20 World Cup has highlighted the remarkable depth of different batting units, along with the growing tendency of batsmen to embrace a high-risk, high-reward approach. A clear example of this fearless mentality is the West Indies cricket team. Historically known for their power-hitting, they have once again relied heavily on explosive batting, backing their depth to recover even if early wickets fall.

“I don’t think there are many line-ups that can boast Romario Shepherd coming in at number nine. I think that’s also a hallmark of all the teams in the tournament now. Especially the teams that have done well. England bat very deep. New Zealand bat very deep. India bat very deep. We have the luxury of having someone like Axar, if he doesn’t come in early, come in at eight.” If the teams play the proverbial attack at all costs, the containment strategy does not necessarily work,” says Ryan ten Doeschate, quoted by NDTV Sports.

Ten Doeschate admitted that taking wickets will be key to consolidating India’s grip on the Caribbean side. He stressed that against a powerful West Indian batting unit, breakthroughs at regular intervals will be crucial to prevent them from building momentum. The Calcutta pitch has largely been favored by batters as it offers real bounce and good carry, which makes containing runs and picking wickets relatively more difficult.

“So you have to concentrate on taking wickets. I think that old-fashioned way of containing 20 overs has gone out of fashion. We believe that West Indies are playing a high risk-reward game in both aspects. As a bowling unit, we are really looking forward to that challenge. We know there are gaps. That’s where we can get wickets. Our plan tomorrow will be to attack the whole 20 overs and take them back in there, just like South Africa does,” Ten said. Doeschate.

“It will definitely be a challenge. The surface looks quite good so it could be a tough match to score. Besides throwing punches with the ball, we have to make sure that we are also brave with the bat and also maintain a high batting rate and intent throughout the inning,” he added.

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