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Aakash Chopra reckons the West Indies are the team to beat heading into the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Windies won their first three games in Group C to make it to the next stage.
Rovman Powell and company beat New Zealand by 13 runs in Tarouba in Wednesday's (June 12) evening game. Afghanistan trounced Papua New Guinea by seven wickets at the same venue a day later to join the co-hosts in the Super Eights, knocking the Kiwis out of the tournament.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra noted that the West Indies are a formidable team and praised Sherfane Rutherford for emerging as the unlikely hero against New Zealand.
"New Zealand tata bye-bye. West Indies are the team to beat. They have an explosive batting lineup in which Sherfane Rutherford came as a slightly out-of-syllabus question from New Zealand's perspective because they managed Nicholas Pooras, Johnson Charles, Brandon King, Andre Russell and everyone else, but Sherfane Rutherford thrashed them," he said (7:10).
While appreciating the Windies' bowling performance, the former India opener warned the other teams against taking the co-hosts lightly.
"He scored runs and took his team to a score from where a win was possible. After that, Gudakesh Motie definitely picks up wickets, he took two or three in this match as well, Alzarri Joseph took four, Akeal Hosein bowled tightly, and then Romario Shepherd and Andre Russell. I think West Indies are a damn good team. This team has depth and variety. You need to be wary of them," Chopra elaborated.
Rutherford smashed an unbeaten 68 off just 39 deliveries and was the only Windies player to reach 20 against the Black Caps. Alzarri Joseph (4/19) and Gudakesh Motie (3/25) then starred with the ball to help their side book a Super 8 berth.
"A big question will be whether New Zealand came underprepared" - Aakash Chopra
While observing that New Zealand have been knocked after losing two games, Aakash Chopra questioned their preparedness for the tournament.
"New Zealand have lost two games. In the first match, they lost to Afghanistan by a huge margin. They were bundled out for only 75. The second match was against the West Indies and there too they were unable to chase runs. A big question will be whether New Zealand came underprepared," he said (6:45).
The reputed commentator noted that underperforming batters cost New Zealand a Super 8 berth.
"Devon Conway and Kane Williamson didn't score runs. Whoever they were looking towards for runs, whether it was Daryl Mitchell or Rachin Ravindra, no one did a good job. They bowled decently but batting let them down. Their story ends here," Chopra observed.
Glenn Phillips (58) is the only New Zealand player to aggregate more than 30 runs in two innings. While Kane Williamson has managed 10 runs in two knocks, Devon Conway has scored 13 in two.
