India beat England by 68 runs in the 2nd Semi-final of T20 World Cup 2024:
Skipper Rohit Sharma’s graceful 57 runs of 39 balls was matched by the might of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav who claimed 3 wickets each as India thrashed England by 68-run to enter the final of the T20 World Cup to be played on 29th June 2024.
Rohit thus became the first Indian captain to lead the country in three ICC global finals in a space of 12 months — 2023 World Test Championship, 2023 ODI World Cup and now the T20 World Cup.
The Indian skipper, on whom India depends to perform on the biggest stage, produced a beauty of innings putting pressure on the England bowling attack. Surya Kumar Yadav chipped in valuable 47 runs of 36 balls on a track where the ball consistently kept low, as India posted 171 for 7 in 20 overs. Chris Jordon picked 3 wickets for England
In response, England lost early wickets and never recovered to be all out for 103 in 16.4 overs.
Axar (3/23 in 4 overs) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/19 in 4 overs) shared the spoils with the ball. The ever dependable Jasprit Bumrah (2/12 in 2.4 overs) did his bit with his classic slow off-cutter that disturbed the English batsmen. He took early wicket of the dangerous Philip Salt.
The 2007 champions will meet South Africa in the final in Barbados on Saturday.
The master tactician Rohit read the pitch’s riot act even before the start and knew that facing Kuldeep and Axar on this track was going to be a very difficult ask.
On a track where the balls kept low, the Indian spinners took advantage of the conditions whereas the English batsmen were bamboozled by the spin wizard Kuldeep Yadav with his deception and flight. Both the spinners bowled wickets to wickets restricting the opponents any room for scoring runs which resulted in falling of wickets.
All eyes would on the mouthwatering clash on Saturday between the Proteas, who would try hard for their first world cup in any format, whereas India will hope to add their 4th World cup trophy cabinet of the world cup finals and their 2nd T20 world cup….