India will seek to avenge defeat at England's hands in the 2022 WC semis, but rain looms and while a washout will see Rohit's men through, a truncated game could get tricky...
GEORGETOWN: In most parts of the West Indies, the old-fashioned way of walking down the runway to the plane still prevails. It's fun on most days, but at night with the rain lashing down, the walk to take the flight, or to deplane, can get a little tricky.
T20 WORLD CUP: SCHEDULE
On Tuesday night, a small flight of about 80 people, consisting mostly of people related to the T20 World Cup, landed in Georgetown and were greeted by persistent showers.
As the passengers all dashed for the shade, one could see the tall figure of Australian umpire Rod Tucker running alongside. When somebody asked Tucker whether he would be officiating the game, he laughed: "Well, yes, if it happens".
"If it happens." That's the operative word on everybody's lips as India get ready to play England in Rohan Kanhai land on Thursday.
It's been raining for the last couple of days in
Guyana
and it didn't stop through the morning on Wednesday. What the locals are hoping is that if it rains on one day, it doesn't on the other. But then, that's clutching at straws, especially when the forecast is as bad as it is for Thursday.
Probably the only ones who don't care are the Indian fans who have tickets for the final in Barbados on Saturday but couldn't manage one for the semifinal here. India will make the final if it's a washout because they topped their Super 8 group.
The ICC has extended the cut-off time for calling the game off by four hours than what it was earlier, but for all that to happen, the rain has to stop first. "This is rain time in Guyana, why did they even schedule the game here? That too without a reserve day," mused a local in anguish.
But the guys who will benefit the most if it keeps raining - the Indian team - are the ones who don't want it to happen this way. The sun came out here after the morning showers on match eve and after India completed a practice session at the quick drying
Providence Stadium
, captain
Rohit Sharma
said: "We are not looking at a curtailed game. When we come tomorrow, we will hope that it is a full game, but if it is so, we will adapt."
This game has a lot riding on emotionally as well for the Indian team because it is their chance to get revenge on a team that had humiliated them in the 2022 T20 World Cup semis. Though the return of
Jasprit Bumrah
, who missed that World Cup with an injury, has been the single most important change that has happened since then, Rohit insists "not much has changed".
"We have thought and discussed and thrashed out numerous times what needs to be done. It's about keeping it going," the skipper said.
Bumrah apart, it's
Kuldeep Yadav
who has been another superb inclusion once India landed in the West Indies. His quality and guile have been difficult to deal with for most opponents and England shouldn't be any exception.
The defending champions, though, have a bit of firepower with the likes of
Jos Buttler
, Phil Salt and the rest finding some form. They have three spinners - Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone - who can make use of spin-friendly conditions in Guyana, but the biggest England supporter would say that a curtailed game would be their best chance.
Man to man, on current form, India are much superior, but if it's a shorter game, many of those things go out of the window. It becomes a bit of a shootout and with rain in the air and Messrs Duckworth, Lewis and Stern calling the shots, the toss, too becomes important.
India know that they may have to deal with these variables, because that's the nature of the beast these days if it's a 365-day cricket season. Rohit and Co. will believe they are good enough for whatever comes in their way as they look to break their ICC silverware drought.
WEATHER UPDATE
It will be cloudy in Guyana on Thursday with 75% probability of rain. While forecast for match hours are slightly better, if it rains heavily before the starts, it can have an impact. With an inefficient stadium drainage system, many hours could be lost.
There is no reserve day for this game. However, play can extend to 4 hours and 10 minutes to complete the game. India advance in case of a washout.
TACTICS BOARD
BRACE FOR SPIN: Providence Stadium is a spinner's haven with low, sharp turn on offer. Spinners have conceded less than 7 runs per over here in recent times, good news for India's spin troika - Kuldeep, Axar and Jadeja. England too boast of Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone in their ranks for this day game.
EXPECT VARIABLE BOUNCE: In the previous WC game here, West Indies struggled to chase down PNG's 137, with the variable bounce raising eyebrows. Don't expect the ball to come on to the bat and expect the surface to play a few tricks.
EMBRACE POWERPLAY RISK: This is precisely what India didn't do in Adelaide last time around. If Rohit Sharma can reprise his heroics against Australia, India will be home free.
UNLEASH MIDDLE-OVERS FIREPOWER: On paper, England have more six-hitters in the lineup but India's middle order enforcers like
Suryakumar Yadav
, Rishabh Pant and Shivam Dube will worry the England attack.
BANISH KNOCKOUT NERVES: India have been traditionally shaky in knockout rounds. But the current England white-ball dispensation too is under pressure after the failure to defend the ODI World Cup last year.
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