While Virat Kohli has been consistent, the others have failed to complement him © Cricaction
They may have huffed and puffed their way to the semifinal, but India team director Ravi Shastri, on Wednesday (March 30), said that the Indian team treating every game they play as a knockout has helped them perform better in the shortest format of the game.
India looked in devastating form coming into the ICC World Twenty20 2016, with T20I series wins against Australia and Sri Lanka, while they also clinched the Asia Cup T20. Their T20 run in 2016 before the world tournament included 10 wins and an unexpected loss to Sri Lanka on a seaming Pune wicket.
Once the World T20 started, however, India looked far from the side they were a week earlier. They were humbled by New Zealand on a turning Nagpur track, while against Bangladesh and Australia, they somehow managed to scrape through. Now, with West Indies lined up at the semifinal stage of the tournament, India know they cannot afford to slip up.
The side has been plagued by batting troubles, with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina having struggled for form. Virat Kohli has been head and shoulders above his teammates, but that is something, Shastri reckons, India cannot take for granted in Mumbai.
"Oh, you would need (your top order to perform), in a big game like the semifinal," said Shastri during the pre-match press conference. I still believe we've played 70% to our ability, there's still 30% where we can improve. Let's hope it happens tomorrow, because in a semifinal, you've got to get your A game. You can't depend on one or two players, you need six or seven players to step up to the plate. It's not happened really in this tournament so far, let's hope it happens tomorrow."
That India are running at just 70% comes in sharp contrast to pre-tournament claims during which India captain, MS Dhoni had said that the side was probably running in sixth gear. The loss to New Zealand, however, turned things on its head for India and they suddenly looked beatable, even when conditions were in their favour.
Shastri, however, reckoned that in T20s, sides, no matter how strong, are bound to suffer setbacks. Such is the nature of the game. "In this format, you're bound to get a hiccup. I don't care what side it is. This format is so tight, things can happen quickly. There can be upsets, but deep down you have to focus on your strengths and keep hammering away at that. And take it one step at a time.
"At the end of the day, you want to be consistent and take it one game at a time," he added. "That's been our approach. With every T20 game that we played, we knew that there was a World Cup coming up, but we said let's respect the format from the very beginning and let's treat every game as a knockout. You want to win every game, which means it doesn't matter who the opposition is, you just play the game."
The opposition India are up against in Mumbai is West Indies. The side from the Caribbean hold the most threat for the hosts since their opener against the unbeaten New Zealand. West Indies racked up impressive wins against England, South Africa and Sri Lanka, but their frailties were highlighted during their defeat to Afghanistan in Nagpur.
Shastri still maintained that Darren Sammy's side is and has been one of the most dangerous. "I've said that from the beginning. They are probably one of the most dangerous sides in this format, because they've got explosive players, they've got match-winners. We know what we're up against."
He was quick to add, however, that his side is more than ready for them. "... and we're up and ready as well."
When he learnt about Chris Gayle's plans to upset the Indian bowlers by targeting them all, Shastri, in typical fashion, said his side was ready for the battle. "Bring it on! All our bowlers will target him," he countered.
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