India makes it to the final by defeating Englishmen in the Semi’s
A befitting reply to the England Board’s post on X: India displayed their exceptional talent and resilience to storm into the T20 World Cup final, defeating England by 68 runs in the semi-final on Thursday
Skipper Rohit Sharma led the charge with an aggressive 57 off 39 balls, supported by Suryakumar Yadav’s 47 off 36 balls. India posted 171 for seven on a rain-affected pitch. In response, England were bowled out for 103 in 16.4 overs, setting up a final clash with first-time finalists South Africa in Barbados on Saturday. It marks India’s third entry into the T20 World Cup final. Hardik Pandya contributed a crucial 13-ball 23, and Axar Patel (3/23), alongside Kuldeep Yadav (3/19), played key roles in dismantling England’s batting lineup. Patel’s early strikes in the powerplay and Yadav’s middle-over exploits ensured India maintained control throughout. India’s comprehensive win avenged their 10-wicket loss to England in the 2022 semi-final. Rohit Sharma became the first Indian captain to lead the team in three ICC finals within a year: the 2023 World Test Championship, the 2023 ODI World Cup, and now the T20 World Cup.
Rohit’s strategic use of Axar in the powerplay proved vital, and Kuldeep’s effective wrist spin on a slow pitch underlined India’s tactical acumen. Both Buttler and Brook fell to reverse sweeps against Axar and Kuldeep, respectively. The match faced multiple rain delays, impacting the start and pausing play with India at 65 for two in eight overs. Despite the interruptions, Rohit adapted well to the tricky surface, guiding India to a competitive total with timely boundaries and aggressive strokes. Suryakumar and Rohit’s partnership flourished post-rain delay, adding valuable runs against England’s spin attack. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja’s late contributions, a testament to the team’s spirit, ensured India crossed the 170 mark. Axar’s final over six off Chris Jordan further boosted the total, with India scoring 53 runs in the last five overs. India now hopes that star batter Virat Kohli finds form for the crucial final, aiming to end their decade-long ICC trophy drought.
