New Delhi: With a place in the final on the line, India and England will lock horns in their second successive semi-final of a T20 World Cup when they go up against each other at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Sunday. Both teams have had contrasting journeys to the semi-finals but past performances will be of little importance in the knockout tie which will be a repeat of the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final where England gave India a forgetful hammering by ten wickets.
However, much water has since flown under the bridge and a lot has changed for both teams. While India have enjoyed a confident run in the tournament, getting the better of the likes of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Australia and remaining unbeaten, England’s only victory against a Test-playing nation was against West Indies, who are not in the semi-finals.
But the scrappy run is far from reflective of the quality England possesses in their ranks. They are still arguably one of the favourites to lift the title and could pose a significant threat to India in the semi-final. The defending champions have a powerful batting line-up consisting of some of the finest T20 batting talent while their bowling attack is one of the most versatile ones in the tournament.
England have some dangerous players in their ranks, who can create serious problems for India in the semi-final. While Buttler has been in impeccable touch with the bat and can single-handedly disrupt India’s bowling plans, the likes of Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid can trouble their batters with their skills and wizardry.
Three England players India need to be wary of in T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final:
1) Adil Rashid
Adil Rashid is one of England’s big-match bowlers and he is certain to turn up against India on a spin-friendly surface at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. The willy leg-spinner’s ability to take risks and his variations in the air make him a dangerous prospect for any team. He might not have been among the top wicket-takers in the tournament this year, but his uncanny ability to seize big moments makes him a stand-out performer for his team.
Besides his excellent temperament and variations, Rashid also poses an excellent record against Virat Kohli and can be the key for England in ensuring that the misfiring India star is kept quiet in the final. Rashid has so far picked up 9 wickets in 7 matches in the T20 World Cup 2024, but he possesses a brilliant record in the Caribean having snapped up 30 wickets at an average of 14.83 and an economy rate of just 6.09. The Indian batters will have to tackle him well in the middle overs if Rohit Sharma & Co. are to fancy their chances in the semi-final.
2) Jos Buttler
England captain Jos Buttler is heading into the all-important semi-final on the back of a sensational knock of 38-ball 83 against USA in the Super Eight where he single-handedly ripped apart their bowling attack with his hitting prowess. Buttler has an incredible pedigree and has shown in the past that he can take the game away from the opposition if he gets his eyes in.
If he manages to settle down well and goes past the Powerplay, it will become even more difficult for the Indian bowlers to contain the England captain. Buttler has notched up 191 runs in 6 innings in the tournament this year. It has not been the best of the campaigns for him, but he is known to turn up in the big games and will be looking to punish the Indian bowlers in the semi-final.
3) Jofra Archer
There are a few players whom you cannot take lightly irrespective of their form and rhythm. Jofra Archer is certainly one of those. The England pacer has managed only 9 wickets in seven matches in the tournament so far and is 14th on the list of the highest wicket-takers this season. But he can be a menacing prospect to face with the new ball.
With both Kohli and Rohit struggling early on against the moving ball, Archer will be looking to exploit the weakness in India’s opening pair and give England a flying start in the semi-final. The Indian openers will have to negate Archer with the new ball to ensure they get to make the most of the Powerplay despite the semi-final likely to be a low-scoring affair considering the conditions in Guyana.
Here is a look at three England players who can pose a serious threat to India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final between the two teams at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
