West Indies’ two-time T20 World Cup winning captain Daren Sammy has said that every team which wants to lift the trophy in the upcoming edition of the tournament in UAE which begins on October 24, will have to first go through Team India.
India will face Pakistan in their opening game of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium on October 24. The 2007 T20 World Cup champions will also have Afghanistan, New Zealand, and two qualifiers from Round 1 to contend with in Group 2 while Group 1 comprises England, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies and two qualifiers from Round 1.
"India is the team to beat. We have heard Dinesh Karthik talk about it -- the experience, their T20 players come into international cricket with, whether it is from India's domestic T20 cricket or the IPL, you see all the countries go there and get the experience," said Sammy on Star Sports show Game Plan.
"Apart from the World Cup, I think this is, if not, the most pressure situation (tournament), where the players will be under and India has that formula. In 2016, when we left our homes, me, the coach and all the guys said -- in order to win this tournament, you will have to go through India. Whatever stage it is, you will have to go through India, whether it is the final, the semi-final," he added.
Despite the tournament being shifted to UAE from India, Sammy feels that Virat Kohli and co will have the upper hand since their players will come into the tournament having played the second leg of IPL 2021, which will also be played in UAE from September 19.
"Yes, it (the tournament) has shifted to the UAE, but don't forget, before that, all the Indian players would have completed the IPL and got used to these conditions. It is not surprising to me that the Indian cricket board chose this place, at this time, to complete the IPL and it will also benefit the other teams. But you will have to go through India in any tournament,” Sammy said.
"As you have seen in the last few ICC tournaments, whether it is the Test Championship or ODI, you will have to go through India in order to win," he added.
(ANI inputs)
