NEW DELHI: The
T20 World Cup semifinal
between India and defending champions England promises to be a high-stakes encounter. India, known for their aggressive batting approach, will aim to overcome the knockout stage jitters that have plagued them for over a decade. The last time these two teams met at this stage, England comprehensively outplayed India in the 2022 edition's semifinal.
However, India have since shed their conservative approach at the top of the order and have emerged as a formidable force in this competition.
T20 World Cup: Schedule | Points Table | Stats
On paper,
Rohit Sharma
's team appears to be the stronger unit for the conditions expected at the Providence Stadium, and they will be seeking revenge for their previous defeat.
The spinners have enjoyed success at this venue since the opening game, and both India's Kuldeep Yadav and England's Adil Rashid will be eager to showcase their skills in this crucial knockout fixture. Pacers have also found success here, with Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi delivering a match-winning spell against New Zealand earlier in the competition.
Interestingly, no match has been played at this venue since June 8, giving the curators ample time to prepare a suitable pitch for this high-profile encounter. While India were clinical in the Super 8 stage, the extreme pressure of a semifinal often leads to unforced errors.
At the top of the order, India will be hoping for runs from the bat of Virat Kohli, who has had an underwhelming tournament by his high standards.
In contrast, his opening partner and skipper Rohit has set the benchmark for fearless cricket with his blazing 41-ball 92 against Australia.
For both Rohit and Kohli, this could be their last shot at winning the T20 world title in Indian colours, and they will be desperate to leave a mark. Rohit has already made it clear that he intends to go all-out in the powerplays without worrying about personal milestones.
India are likely to field an unchanged team, with
Yuzvendra Chahal
yet to feature in the competition. Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional form will be a significant challenge for England, while
Hardik Pandya
's all-round contributions have been invaluable for India.
England, on the other hand, had a rocky start to their campaign but managed to turn things around in the Super 8s. Skipper Jos Buttler's return to form against USA bodes well for England, and his familiarity with the Indian attack could prove crucial.
Phil Salt's ability to take the game away from the opposition quickly will be a concern for India, who will need to dismiss him early. More runs are expected from Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali, whose off-spin could be useful against India's left-handers.
Liam Livingstone's versatility with both leg and off-spin could see him bowl his full quota of overs, while Adil Rashid's four overs could also prove decisive. Jofra Archer's return from injury has been impressive, and he will be looking to trouble Rohit and Kohli with the new ball.
Chris Jordan's confidence will be high after taking a hat-trick in the last game. The possibility of rain impacting the game adds another layer of uncertainty to this high-stakes encounter.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya,
Yashasvi Jaiswal
, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube,
Ravindra Jadeja
, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
England: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley,
Will Jacks
, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.
English (US) ·