Chris Gayle says West Indies are underdogs in India semi-final

Chris Gayle says multi-talented India will start as favourites for Thursday's World Twenty20 semi-final against the West Indies in Mumbai.

The tournament hosts are starting to fire on all cylinders after losing their opening match against New Zealand by 47 runs, when they were bowled out for 79.

India beat Australia by six wickets in their do-or-die clash on Sunday, thanks largely to Virat Kohli's unbeaten 82 off 51 deliveries.

Live ICC World T20 Cricket

And Gayle believes the form of "world-beater" Kohli and his team-mates makes the West Indies underdogs to reach the final.

"I have said it many times over the years that he was going to become the world beater he is today," said the West Indies captain.

"I am hoping, please don't fire, Virat! He can still get runs but for a losing cause. We'll be happy with that as well.

"But we are not going to focus on only Virat, there are so many match-winners there and anyone of them can actually fire on any particular day.

"It is very difficult to pinpoint one particular player in the Indian team. It is a very good all-round team, a good fielding team as well.

"That's why India are the favourites. It is always going to be difficult to beat them here. But like I said, West Indies are ready for an upset."

The Windies will go into the match at the Wankhede Stadium without Andre Fletcher who has been ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury and has been replaced by Lendl Simmons.

Gayle himself has been struggling with injury. He did not bat against Sri Lanka and was rested for the shock defeat to Afghanistan.