India’s victory over defending champion England in the semi-final of the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2024 was a significant achievement for the team, as they were able to secure a 68-run win to reach the final of the tournament. The match took place at Providence Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana, where India put up a strong performance to outplay their opponents. India’s next challenge will be facing South Africa in the final, which will take place at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Both teams have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, setting the stage for an exciting showdown.
Captain Rohit Sharma played a crucial role in India’s victory, scoring 57 runs to help the team compile a total of 171-7. Suryakumar Yadav also made a significant contribution with a vital knock of 47 off 36 balls. Despite rain delays and a wet outfield causing over 2-1/2 hours of play to be lost, India managed to put up a competitive score. In response, the Indian spinners Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav made a strong impact, taking a combined total of 6-42 to restrict England to 103 all out in 16.3 overs. The pitch, which lacked grass and offered sharp turn, proved challenging for the England batters as they struggled to build partnerships.
Jos Buttler’s aggressive start for England, with four boundaries in his 23 off 15 balls, was short-lived as he fell to a top-edged reverse sweep off Patel’s bowling. This wicket triggered a collapse for England, as they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. The win for India was not only a step towards the final but also a moment of redemption, as they had suffered a heavy defeat against England in the 2022 World Cup semifinal. The victory was a testament to India’s strong performance in all departments, from batting to bowling, which helped them secure a convincing win over the defending champions.
India’s batting performance was led by Sharma and Yadav, who put together a crucial 73-run partnership for the third wicket. Despite the challenging conditions of the pitch, the duo managed to navigate the variable bounce of pace and spin to build a solid foundation for India’s total. However, Virat Kohli’s struggles in the tournament continued as he was dismissed for a run-a-ball nine by Reece Topley. The rain delays also affected the flow of the game, but Sharma’s aggressive batting after the interruption helped India push towards a competitive score.
England’s bowlers, including Adil Rashid and Jofra Archer, managed to pick up key wickets to halt India’s momentum. However, with Chris Jordan taking 3-37 to wrap up the Indian innings, the target of 171 proved to be a challenging one for England. The strong performance by India’s spinners, backed by a competitive total on the board, proved to be decisive as England struggled to build partnerships and were eventually bowled out for 103. Overall, India’s victory was a testament to their resilience and determination to overcome challenges and secure a spot in the final of the Twenty20 World Cup.
