BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — West Indies will face India in a must-win match today in order to remain in the World Twenty20 Championship.

Following wins in the preliminary round, West Indies crashed to a 57-run defeat to Sri Lanka in their first match of the Super Eights, leaving their fixture at Kensington Oval against India absolutely crucial.

They lie bottom of Group F without a point and a second loss would be devastating to their hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the tournament in St Lucia.

The Windies will face an Indian side which is also in danger of bowing out the tournament at the second round stage for the second year running.

Australia crushed them on Friday by 49 runs in their opening Super Eights and they too now desperately need a win to keep their final four hopes alive.

The match will be a repeat of last year’s clash in the Super Eights when the tournament was staged in England, and West Indies beat the Indians by seven wickets at Lord’s.

Then, the Windies employed a strong pace attack to rattle India, but captain Chris Gayle remained cagey about a similar approach ahead of the crucial game.

“Yes we can use the short ball but at the same time you have to be careful,” Gayle told reporters.

“It is a small ground and we will be bowling to quality batters who can make the necessary adjustment.”

West Indies will look to a big improvement from their batsmen who have struggled in the tournament to date with moderate scores of 138 against both Ireland and Sri Lanka.

They will also ask for discipline from their bowlers who have now twice conceded totals in excess of 190.

Gayle said his side would be looking to put up a good total on what had been a good Oval batting wicket.

“It is a good wicket to bat on. Once you get in you definitely can get value for your shots,” the aggressive left-hander said.

West Indies will face the rampant Australians in their final game of the Super Eights on Tuesday in St Lucia.