India recorded a commanding 68-run victory over England to secure a place in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on Thursday, June 28, at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. The day’s heroics were scripted by Rohit Sharma’s splendid half-century and a formidable bowling display by spinners Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, each claiming three wickets. India set a challenging total of 171 and bowled out England for a meager 103 to seal the victory.
This triumph marked an end to India’s 10-year wait for a T20 World Cup final berth and sweet revenge for their semifinal loss to England in the 2022 World Cup. Undefeated in the tournament, India will face an unbeaten South African side in the final at Bridgetown on June 29.
The match began under unpredictable weather conditions, with rain delays causing intermittent disruptions. Winning the toss, England chose to field first, aiming to exploit the damp conditions. India experienced early jitters, losing initial wickets swiftly. However, skipper Rohit Sharma steadied the ship, scoring a crucial 57 runs off 39 balls. Suryakumar Yadav, also in fine form, contributed a significant 47 runs, guiding India to a total of 171/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
England started their chase optimistically, putting up 26 quick runs for the opening wicket. Yet, their hopes were soon dashed as Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav expertly navigated the conditions, dismantling the English batting lineup. The defending champions, laden with expectations, found themselves bowled out for just 103 runs in 16.4 overs. This victory margin emerged as the second-largest in the history of T20 World Cup knockouts, solidifying India’s position as favorites for the final.
Virat Kohli’s performance continued to be a cause for concern, as he fell for a single-digit score, bowled out by Reece Topley early in the powerplay. Kohli’s struggles underscored ongoing issues despite India’s overall success.
. Rishabh Pant similarly failed to make a significant impact. Nonetheless, the partnership between Rohit and Suryakumar provided the match-defining innings that India required.
India faced further turbulence when both Rohit and Suryakumar were dismissed in quick succession. However, a rapid 23-run cameo from Hardik Pandya proved vital in tilting the balance back towards India’s favor. In the latter stages of the innings, Chris Jordan claimed three wickets to restrict India from amassing an even larger total, highlighting the tricky batting conditions towards the death overs.
As England commenced their innings, in-form Jos Buttler aimed to counterattack, smashing three consecutive boundaries off Arshdeep Singh in the third over, creating early pressure. But Axar Patel swiftly turned the tide, dismissing the English captain on his very first delivery of the game. This key wicket set the stage for England’s subsequent collapse.
Harry Brook attempted to mount a resistance, scoring 25 runs, but Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel maintained relentless pressure with regular wickets. The final nail in England’s coffin came from Jasprit Bumrah, who dismissed Chris Jordan in the 17th over, ending England’s misery. Bumrah’s spell was remarkable, claiming 2 wickets for just 12 runs. Axar’s outstanding performance with the ball, taking 3 for 23, earned him the Player of the Match award, as India celebrated their emphatic victory.
The playing XI for India featured Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah. England’s lineup included Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk/c), Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Reece Topley.
As the anticipations heighten, all eyes are now set on the final showdown between India and South Africa. Both teams, undefeated thus far, promise a thrilling contest for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title, with cricket fans eagerly awaiting the battle at Bridgetown on June 29.
