Ten years on from an epic semifinal victory over India at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, at the 2016 T20 World Cup, the West Indies again square off with the Indians, with their World Cup survival on the line. This time around, the stage is the 2026 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's T20 World Cup, and Eden Gardens, Kolkata, will be the venue for the Windies' Super 8s clash with co-hosts India from 9.30 am on March 1 – a must-win game for both teams as they chase a place in this year's semifinal.

In the 2016 semi, fifties from Johnson Charles and Lendl Simmons, to go along with an unbeaten 43 from Andre Russell, powered the Windies to a 193-run target to stun the Mumbai faithful. Charles is also a member of this current squad, but is yet to feature despite the shortcomings of fellow opening batsman Brandon King (92 runs from six innings) in this tournament.

At the pre-game presser, Windies coach Daren Sammy gave little away on the possible make-up of his XI for the virtual quarterfinal. However, he's quietly backing his charges to reignite that magic of the 2016 team.

"They have a saying, history could repeat itself, although it was a different venue and it's two different teams," Sammy said.

"I'm sure there are going to be about 80,000 people here tomorrow and another 1.4 billion supporting India. It will still feel like a David and Goliath showdown. But as I said in 2016, David did beat Goliath. So that's what I'm going to tell my boys tomorrow."

Before the start of the tourney, Sammy said any team desirous of winning this year's crown would need to go through the holders India. Now faced with that challenge in a do-or-die matchup, the Windies coach is relishing the opportunity for his team to do something great.

"We're going to play a complete game. The (Indian) team has quality and match-winners just like we do, and it's a battle of who executes with bat, ball and in the field as well.

"I expect it to be an exciting game, and as usual, I want my team to win. That's what we're focusing on. How can we get that advantage on all the matchups and play a brand that is effective enough to bring us the victory tomorrow?"

After a five-game winning streak to start the tournament, the Windies came unstuck in their last Super 8s game with South Africa as they were hammered by nine wickets in Ahmedabad. After a batting collapse, the West Indies were reeling at 83 for 7, before a record eighth-wicket stand between Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd got them to a respectable score.

The Men in Maroon coach said he's leaving the South African result in Ahmedabad, but reckons there are positives that can be carried into the Indian clash.

"One loss in a tournament doesn't say you're a bad team," the West Indies coach said. "You see how India responded after the loss to South Africa. We have to respond after that loss as well..all hands (are) on deck."

And though Sammy said the game isn't the toughest challenge of his coaching career thus far, he acknowledges the occasion and what it means to his players.

"If you win, you go through. You lose, and you start thinking about all the what-ifs that could have happened. And that's what makes an athlete. That's what makes a World Cup. It's the pinnacle of your sport," he said.

"We have the mindset, and we have prepared well, and we've planned well....that's what I'm going to be channeling to the boys, and I know they're ready to deliver.

"It will be a massive celebration for us to get through to the semifinal. We've not been there in ten years, so that will be an achievement for the group, and it means that our mission is still possible. I can't wait."

Will the West Indies stun the giants India? Or will this be the end of the road for coach Sammy and the regional team?