 |
India's Quest for a World Title On Course: Semi-Final Victory Over England |
India's journey towards claiming a world title is progressing well, marking 11 years since their last championship. They now stand just a few hours away from potential glory, facing a formidable South African team in the final.
Semi-Final Match Recap: India vs England
In the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final held in Providence, Guyana, Rohit Sharma and his team dismantled the defending champions, England. Batting first, India posted a competitive 171 runs. In response, England was bowled out for just 103 runs, a stark contrast to their previous encounter in Adelaide in 2022.
Tactical Battle in Tough Conditions
On a pitch like Guyana’s, where pace is slow and bounce is low, scoring runs behind and square of the wicket is challenging. Disciplined bowling on a good length can stifle batters. Despite England’s strategy to limit India’s scoring areas, India managed to score 69 runs from such areas at a strike rate of 192.
Rohit's Risk and Reward Strategy
During the powerplay, Rohit Sharma played with a strike rate of 133, higher than his career T20I strike rate of 141. This aggressive approach, treating every ball as a scoring opportunity, marked a shift in India’s batting strategy. Settling down after the fourth over, Rohit scored 40 runs off 26 balls, including four fours and two sixes, demonstrating his acceptance of risk in T20 cricket.
The Rashid Recovery
Adil Rashid, England’s premier spinner, initially struggled with India’s aggressive intent but recovered well post a lengthy rain break. By maintaining a tight line on off-stump, he managed to dismiss Rohit Sharma for 57 off 39 balls and conceded just eight runs in his final two overs.
Spin Dominates
With Rashid done by the 14th over, England turned to part-timer Liam Livingstone, who bowled impressively at the death, finishing with 4-0-24-0. This performance hinted at the effectiveness of spin on this pitch. India’s spinners—Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja—played crucial roles, both with the bat and ball, helping India to a total of 171.
Axar Patel: The Game-Changer
Axar Patel’s immediate impact after Jos Buttler’s aggressive start was pivotal. Taking Buttler’s wicket with his first ball, Axar set the tone for India’s dominance. His consistent breakthroughs, including dismissals of Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali, kept England under pressure.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Redemption
Kuldeep Yadav shone with crucial wickets, bamboozling Sam Curran and outsmarting Harry Brook. His performance was particularly significant given his previous struggles against England, which had led to a period out of white-ball cricket.
England's Collapse
England’s batting collapsed, with six players scoring in single digits and none surpassing 25 runs. The run-out of their last recognized batter, Liam Livingstone, marked the end of their title defense.
