In David v Goliath, people tend to forget that David won: Darren Sammy

In David v Goliath, people tend to forget that David won: Darren Sammy

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West Indies captain Darren Sammy knows that the odds will be stacked against his team, when they take on India in the second semi-final of the World T20. However, he feels that his team is ready for the challenge. He has also stressed on the importance of winning the small battles during the match.

“It is going to be a hell of a game, it is going to be the West Indies versus 78,000 and many more millions in India. It is a challenge we are ready to face.

"The guys who predict the results, I think they say it's 80-20 to India, so it feels like a David and Goliath. But people tend to forget that David won the fight," Sammy told the press ahead of the game at Wankhede.

The 32-year-old said that the key to their success so far in the tournament has been the willingness of the individual players to take up the responsibility of seeing their team over the line in difficult situations.

“Responsibility is one of the key words we use in the dressing room. Someone taking the responsibility to bring the team together, not leaving it for anyone in the dressing room. The three games we won (at WT20 2016), the first game Chris Gayle batted throughout the innings. It was Andre Fletcher in the second match, in the third one Marlon Samuels took us really close,” he explained.

Sammy said that the team is aware of the big challenge they will face against a team like India, and insisted that it is important to win the small 'events' during the game. He said, “We are aware that India is a good team at seizing momentum. Once we don’t let them win too many events in those 240 balls, we are backing ourselves to do it”.

Sammy has come under a lot of criticism for his own performance as a player, but the 32-year-old said that his belief in his own ability has not dwindled.

“I have always played with a smile on my face. When the tough times came, I always say that many people have job they wake up and go not because they want to, but because they have to. I enjoy what I am doing. All good things must come to an end. I have never let criticism affect me. My strongest assets are my mind and will power. I believe in myself and put the team first at all instances,” he added.

Sammy went on to list the match-winners from both of these sides. He said, “You have Chris Gayle in the dressing room, the best T20 batsman in the world, his record speaks for himself. On the other hand, you have somebody like Virat Kohli in India’s team, there are M. S. Dhoni, Suresh Raina. We have quality players in Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree and Sulieman Benn, it is a good combination which allows you to win matches”.

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