India Edge Past England To Qualify For Finals
Credit – Firstpost
Rohit Sharma’s Indian team has once again clinched a place in the T20 World Cup finals by overcoming England in the semi-final. They are now set to face South Africa in the finals. Following a disappointing defeat on home soil in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Rohit and his team have reignited the hopes and excitement of their fans with this achievement. India, who won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, will again vying for the title. They also reached the final in 2014 but were defeated by Sri Lanka.
On Thursday, India and England clashed to secure a T20 World Cup final spot. India, having played dominant cricket throughout the tournament, were the favorites, though nerves were high given England’s decisive victory over them in the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup.
After winning the toss, Jos Buttler opted to bowl first at a rain-affected venue, raising concerns that weather could play a critical role. India was put to bat first and faced an early setback when star batter Virat Kohli was bowled out for 9 in the 3rd over. Rohit Sharma led from the front, ensuring India capitalized on the powerplay. Despite losing Rishabh Pant cheaply and being at 46/2 after the powerplay, Indian batters adapted well to the tricky pitch conditions, where balls were kept low. Thanks to crucial innings from Rohit Sharma (57) and Suryakumar Yadav (47), India posted a competitive total of 171. The Indian finishers stepped up when needed: Hardik Pandya scored a quick 23 off 13 balls, Ravindra Jadeja contributed 17* off 9 balls, and Axar Patel added 10* off the last over, putting India in a commanding position.
Credit – Variety
With 171 on the Guyana pitch, chasing would always be tough for England, especially against India’s formidable bowling attack. England’s batters started aggressively, scoring 26 runs in the first 3 overs. However, skipper Rohit Sharma quickly brought on Axar Patel in the 4th over, who dismissed Buttler on the very first ball. After Buttler’s dismissal, the English side lost momentum. The Indian spinners wove their magic, and England’s batters struggled, ultimately getting all out for just 103 in the 17th over, losing by 68 runs. Apart from Buttler and Harry Brook, none of the English batters could find any rhythm, leading to a comprehensive defeat. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav took 3 wickets each, while Jasprit Bumrah continued his excellent form, picking up 2 wickets for just 12 runs. Axar Patel was named Man of the Match for his all-around performance.
Credit – Yahoo News Singapore
With this win, Rohit and his team have avenged their 10-wicket loss to England. India will now face South Africa in the final tomorrow. South Africa, playing in their first-ever ICC final, will look to upset Indian fans once again, while Rohit’s unit appears rock-solid and ready to bring the cup back to India.
