The semifinal match between India and England in Georgetown is shrouded in mystery. Originally scheduled to take place in Trinidad, the match was unexpectedly moved to Guyana for reasons only the decision-makers are aware of.
Further complicating matters is the absence of a reserve day for this match, in contrast to the first semifinal. As Mike Atherton aptly puts it, “Two different playing conditions for the two different semifinals.”
When is India vs England?
Thursday, 27th January from 8 pm onwards
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India vs England: Match Preview
Although additional hours have been set aside to ensure the game reaches a conclusion, the weather remains uncertain, with forecasts predicting possible rain on match day. The wait could stretch from 10:30 in the morning until around 6:30 in the evening, and there is a chance the game may not take place at all. The possibility that India might not be too concerned about this outcome is another story altogether.
The greatest enigma, however, is the Providence Stadium pitch—will it play true or be unpredictable? A quick look at the numbers reveals intriguing details: the highest PowerPlay run rate is 6.4, it drops to 5.5 in the middle overs, and peaks at 7.6 in the death overs. The boundary percentage for World Cup matches here stands at approximately 50 percent, suggesting a low-scoring contest.
Notably, it was on this ground that Afghanistan sensationally defeated New Zealand by 84 runs, restricting them to a mere 75 in a first-round clash. The venue has not been kind to the favorites. But then, who really is the favorite in this semifinal clash—top-ranked India or defending champions England?
All the best origin stories begin from a point of intense trauma. England’s rise from their humiliation in Adelaide at the 2015 ODI World Cup has been well documented—the shedding of reticence and the embracing of risk, the faith in a new generation under the guidance of a handful of wise old heads, and the reaping of rewards that could scarcely have been imagined while the old mentality held sway. This transformation led to their winning (albeit briefly) concurrent World Cups in the 50 and 20-over formats.
The current stage of England’s narrative arc is uncertain, especially following their weak 50-over title defense in India last year, coupled with a skittish journey through the Caribbean that has been sustained almost exclusively by their dominant performances against Associate opponents.
The two teams clashed in the semifinal of the last edition as well—in Adelaide in 2022—where England handed India a resounding 10-wicket defeat. However, much has changed since then. While India has remained unbeaten in the championship so far, England has only managed to defeat one Test-playing side, West Indies, on their way to the semifinal.
What we do know, however, is that as England passed through Adelaide in November 2022 on their way to a second world title, their arc intersected with India’s own nadir. Much like in 2015, the ten-wicket drubbing in the T20 World Cup semi-final left a sense that India, overly confident in their home-soil dominance, had lost sight of the need to adapt to foreign conditions. It was clear that something needed to change urgently. Judging by India’s steady but as yet unrewarded response, it seems that change is indeed underway.
Here, though, lies an enticing acid test of India’s new methods. It seems inevitable that their decade-long drought at ICC events will eventually come to an end, but they likely thought the same after cruising to last year’s 50-over final in Ahmedabad. Much like Ben Stokes’ experience in Kolkata in 2016 was a crucial factor in England’s subsequent triumphs, the trauma of that loss to Australia will undoubtedly have steeled India’s resolve as they face the sharp end of another global tournament. No one should expect an easy ride in a knockout scenario, especially when the intense desire for victory has overshadowed the process of achieving it.
Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma will have to contend with the highly competitive Jofra Archer, who excels in high-stakes games. Additionally, if Reece Topley is included in the England XI, his movement with the new ball could pose a significant challenge for the Indian batters, as both Kohli and Rohit are not particularly fond of his line of attack.
Ultimately, the outcome may hinge on how the Indian middle order handles England’s three spinning options: Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali, and Liam Livingstone. Hardik Pandya could play a crucial role in the latter half of the game, as demonstrated by his performances in the last two Super 8 matches.
While much faith has been placed in Shivam Dube to tackle the spinners, Pandya might once again be the central figure in the middle order. With Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel struggling to make an impact with the bat, Pandya’s role becomes even more critical in the decisive stages, where most games are won and lost.
England have tactical decisions to make with their selection. For starters, should they opt for the experience and death-bowling expertise of Chris Jordan or the extra pace of Mark Wood? Additionally, Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone, especially Moeen, should be deployed against Rishabh Pant and Shivam Dube—a strategy Australia may have missed by not utilizing Glenn Maxwell. Rashid, benefiting from the expected assistance from the surface, will be England’s main wicket-taking option.
England, on the other hand, have been gripped by an entirely different emotion of late. The fear of failure, which hadn’t been particularly familiar throughout their years of white-ball mediocrity, seemed to paralyze them during the 50-over World Cup and again in their lackluster group-stage loss to the now-absent Australians in Barbados.
Now, however, one wonders if meeting the squad’s bare minimum expectation—reaching a fourth consecutive T20 World Cup semi-final—might unleash a different mindset in a group of players who clearly know what it takes to cross the finish line. India hasn’t won a World Cup since 2011, while South Africa and Afghanistan on the other side of the draw have never won one at all. England could still be in the running for a third title in five years.
As Australia has demonstrated throughout their history, familiarity with the unique pressures of knockout contests clearly counts for something. But so too does a burning desire to prove a point that has been years in the making. Assuming the rain stays away, one side’s position will have to give way. It promises to be a compelling encounter, regardless of the outcome.
Though Livingstone is often regarded as a part-time spinner, he can be quite effective when the track offers assistance, delivering leg breaks to right-handers and off-spin to left-handers. If the rest of the bowlers perform to their usual standards, Livingstone’s bowling might be the difference in how England fares.
India vs England: Form Guide
India WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
England WLWWW
India vs England: Pitch Conditions
Roger Harper, a native of Guyana, describes the upcoming match as a clash of titans and hopes to witness high-quality cricket on Thursday morning. The former West Indies spinner’s wish is likely to be fulfilled, as there is very little to differentiate between the sides. The pitch is expected to favor spinners, and teams batting first have won three of the five matches at this venue during the World Cup. Once again, there is very little to give either side a clear advantage.
Guyana has proven to be a challenging venue for run-scoring throughout the T20 World Cup, with a run rate of 6.20 and an average of 14.67. While these statistics are somewhat skewed by two heavy defeats for Uganda, they also highlight the difficulty of the pitch, as seen when serial semi-finalists New Zealand were bowled out for 75 by Afghanistan.
Spin has been a significant weapon at Providence in this tournament, with 27 wickets falling in five previous matches at a strike rate of 17.1. This is surpassed among the regular venues only by Arnos Vale in St. Vincent.
Unlike the first semifinal in Trinidad, there is no reserve day scheduled for this match, with the ICC citing insufficient travel time ahead of Saturday morning’s final in Barbados. However, with the match slated to start at 10:30 am, there are 250 minutes of extra time available, making it likely that some play will be possible unless there is heavy rain all day. A minimum of 10 overs per side is required to constitute a match.
If the match is washed out, India will progress to the final as they topped their group in the Super Eight.
India vs England: Head-to-head
India and England are evenly matched at 2-2 in their recent encounters. Overall, India holds a slight edge in all T20Is between the two sides, with a record of 12-11.
India vs England: Team News
India
India is likely to stick with the same XI that has been playing since their arrival in the Caribbean. However, there is speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma’s previous comments about the team management’s decision to include four spinners. The potential inclusion of a second wrist spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, adds intrigue. If Chahal is brought in, the decision of who to replace—either a finger spinner or a pacer—becomes crucial. It’s expected that the opening combination will remain unchanged.
Jasprit Bumrah has dismissed Jos Buttler twice in T20Is, conceding just 3 runs in 10 balls bowled to the England captain. Across all T20 matches, Buttler has fallen to Bumrah four times and maintains a strike rate of just 86.6 against India’s standout bowler. This matchup could significantly influence the tone and outcome of the contest. The responsibility now lies on Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and possibly Hardik Pandya as well, to remove the English captain, Jos Buttler, early in the innings before he can seize control of the game.
India’s Predicted XI:
- Rohit Sharma (Capt.)
- Virat Kohli
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Shivam Dube
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Kuldeep Yadav
England
Captain Buttler faces a significant dilemma regarding whether to persist with Chris Jordan, who recently achieved a hat-trick, or introduce Mark Wood into the lineup. While Wood’s additional pace presents a compelling option, the England management is likely to maintain faith in Jordan for the upcoming match.
Adil Rashid delivered a potentially game-defining spell (1 for 20) in the Adelaide semifinal two years ago. He will play a crucial role in England’s efforts to restrain India’s scoring in the middle overs on a surface expected to favor his style of bowling. Rashid has dismissed Virat Kohli twice in T20Is, conceding just 72 runs from 68 balls against him. Additionally, Rashid has accounted for Suryakumar Yadav’s wicket twice, although their battle has been more closely contested, with Suryakumar striking at a rate of 229.4 in their matchups.
England’s Predicted XI:
- Phil Salt
- Jos Buttler (c&wk)
- Jonny Bairstow
- Harry Brook
- Moeen Ali
- Liam Livingstone
- Sam Curran
- Chris Jordan
- Jofra Archer
- Reece Topley
- Adil Rashid
India vs England: Players Under Spotlight
India- Virat Kohli
In this knockout game, the spotlight will inevitably be on Virat Kohli, renowned for his ability to shape outcomes in high-pressure matches. Kohli has been surprisingly below par in this World Cup, managing only 66 runs in five matches, which includes two ducks—figures not typical of his caliber. This semifinal presents an ideal opportunity for him to reaffirm the faith placed in him by the team management, especially batting at the top order. It’s a stage where Kohli has historically thrived, and his influence could be pivotal in determining the outcome of the contest.
Virat Kohli has played three T20 World Cup semifinals with impressive scores: 72* (44), 89* (47), and 50 (40).
England- Jos Buttler
In terms of batting threats for England, Jonny Bairstow and Phil Salt have shown sporadic danger to opposing bowling attacks, but the most significant threat undoubtedly comes from captain Jos Buttler. Once Buttler settles in, he can be devastating, especially towards the end of the innings. If he bats beyond the PowerPlay, his prowess against spin and ability to unleash in the death overs become even more pronounced.
With the ball typically less likely to swing during this phase, Buttler adeptly targets boundaries and employs delicate scoops over fine leg. This approach often compels the opposition to adjust their field placements, with a fine leg brought up and mid-off moving inside the circle, which only enhances Buttler’s scoring opportunities through mid-off and cover—areas where he excels.
Where To Watch The T20 World Cup Live in India? Streaming Details
Cricket enthusiasts can catch the live action of the T20 World Cup 2024 matches via free live streaming on Disney+ Hotstar on mobile devices in India. Additionally, the T20 WC cricket matches will be broadcasted live on Star Sports and DD Sports TV channels across the country.
