India stormed into the final of the T20 World Cup with a thumping 68-run victory over defending champions England in the second semifinal of the event at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Tuesday.
India, seeking to end a lengthy world title drought, set a challenging target of 171, adapting well to the slow, low-bouncing pitch. The match was interrupted by rain but ultimately completed.
Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, led from the front, scoring 57 runs and showcasing his risk-taking approach. Suryakumar Yadav, with a rapid 47, provided valuable support, making the most of the opportunity to score runs behind the wicket on a challenging pitch.
Indian star batters Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant did not perform well in this math, but the collective approach by others helped them post a challenging total.
The turning point came in England's chase, as India's spinners, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, wreaked havoc on the English batting order. The duo combined for six wickets, dismantling the English batting lineup and setting up a comfortable victory for India, conceding only 42 runs in eight overs.
Axar struck first, dismissing the dangerous Jos Buttler on the first ball of his spell, sending a shockwave through the England camp. He also scalped the crucial wicket of Jonny Bairstow, with a ball that ripped back into the batter, leaving him stranded.
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India's spin attack was relentless, with Kuldeep's class and Axar's sharp bowling on a pitch that offered little bounce proving too much for the English batting order.
The low bounce and slow nature of the Providence pitch played a significant role throughout the match, making it difficult for the batters to score freely. England's batters, who have traditionally been strong against spin, struggled to adapt.
India, with their strong spin attack, had the advantage. The Indian bowlers took advantage of the conditions, keeping a tight lid on the scoring rate and making it almost impossible for England to chase down the target.
India, who won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, are now up for another title. After the match, Rohit Sharma, Indian captain, said they struggled a lot to adapt to the challenging conditions. He credited his teammates for their hard work and execution of plans at crucial moments.
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“Very satisfying to win. Worked very hard as a unit and it was a great effort from all,” he said after the match. He also praised his spin attack, saying “Axar, Kuldeep are gun spinners.”
English captain Jos Buttler also credited India for their efforts and said they were outplayed by the Indian spinners. “They had an above-par total, and it was always a tough chase,” he added.