India, Feb. 24 -- In a tournament as compressed as the T20 World Cup, one defeat can be absorbed, but two can prove disastrous. India have already used their margin for error in the Super 8 stage.

After the loss to South Africa, a slip against Zimbabwe doesn't just dent qualification hopes, it complicates scenarios, invites awkward dependence on other results, and magnifies net run rate calculations. The equation is simple. On Thursday, India will play a match that, on paper, tilts heavily in their favour. In reality, it may define the tenor of their tournament.

To that effect, there cannot be a trickier opposition than Zimbabwe. The danger in matches like these lies not in seedings or rankings. Zimbabwe arrive without the burden of exp...