A true characteristic of a grueling T20 World Cup is how a single game can knock one out of the door, even if they entered that game at their buoyant best. Such has been the story of India and Zimbabwe - both of whom had set foot into the Super 8s undefeated and are now staring at the barrel.
And while Zimbabwe have broken their barriers and will head home with pride regardless of the results moving forward, a nation of 1.4 billion will watch on with bated breath, after India's NRR took a massive hit after a 76-run defeat at the hands of South Africa.
Now-or-never for India's top order
Excluding Ishan Kishan's exploits that demonstrate India's gung-ho approach in the powerplay that has often breached unthinkable walls, it's been a lean patch for the co-hosts' top order.
No team in the tournament has recorded more ducks than the holders. And topping those charts, unfortunately for Suryakumar Yadav's side, is Abhishek Sharma.
Off-spin has been the go-to by opposition captains against, and India could potentially problem-solve by throwing in Sanju Samson at the top, dropping Kishan to number three and in turn, leaving out Tilak Verma. The latter's intent has come under wide scrutiny; he has scored merely 107 runs at 118.89.
"Ishan obviously played brilliantly against Pakistan, but Abhishek had a little rough patch, two or three games. It is fine. I personally would not stress too much about it. I would rather look ahead," said batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, dismissing concerns over form.
He added, "Obviously, we are preparing, we are talking, and we are planning what oppositions are trying to bowl at them. They will bowl off-spinner, the pacers are bowling outside the off-stump. All that, obviously, you would also know that. So, not really so concerned about anything to be very honest."
And they'll be up against one of the tournament's best performers in Blessing Muzarabani. With 11 victims claimed in four matches at an average of 10.27, the 29-year-old exploited the back-of-a-length delivery to devastating effect in Sri Lanka, and has brought all his maturity on Indian surfaces, arrowing his deliveries a couple of meters forward.
Zimbabwe can aim to outplay India on the field and by introducing spin early on, while SKY and co. will hope to upset Richard Ngavara's rhythm as he struggled early on in the previous game against West Indies, where the Chevrons were taken to the cleaners.
While the West Indies versus South Africa result could shape the standings, both teams know that securing a win themselves is imperative.
Also read: West Indies vs South Africa: T20 World Cup Preview, Predictions and Betting Tips
Total Runs - Home Team, Over 1: Over 6.5
It's hard to see the series of failures for India's openers continue. Even if it should, on what has been the kindest surface for run-scoring this World Cup, the likes of Abhishek and Samson (should he start in the XI and open) should be able to put a couple of boundaries away.
And if India continue with their present opening combination, Kishan, who has struck 19 fours in five innings is a favorite to continue his rich vein of scoring.
The latest India vs Zimbabwe T20 World Cup odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Top Wicket Taker - India - Jasprit Bumrah
The popular discourse remains within India's batting issues that were highlighted in the group stage matches, despite them running away as group leaders. And most of it is surrounded by how the lofty heights and gigantic scores they posted almost effortlessly leading up to the World Cup, are nowhere to be seen in this edition.
Amidst all the white noise, Jasprit Bumrah has continued to defy the horizon of consistency that was expected from the batters.
He's going at less than run-a-ball in this edition, and as he so often does, Bumrah wreaked havoc when he was tasked with the new ball, leaving South Africa lurching at 20/3 before the tide turned.
With impeccable execution and the visitor batters not particularly accustomed to his action or release point, he could engineer India's return to winning ways.
