Introduction
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Semi-Final 2 witnessed a high-stakes battle between India and England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on June 27, 2024. With India emerging victorious, the match set the stage for an exciting final against South Africa. Key contributors included Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav for India, while Jos Buttler and Harry Brook were notable performers for England. India posted a competitive 171/7, and England was bowled out for 103, resulting in a 68-run victory for India.
Rohit Sharma’s Pre-Match Message
Leadership and Strategy
Indian captain Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of unity and strategic play in his pre-match statement. “Our squad has been working incredibly hard; every player knows their role. We’re focused on executing our game plan and adapting to the conditions,” Sharma said. He underscored the contributions of key players like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, adding, “Virat’s consistency and Jasprit’s bowling have been crucial. We’re confident in our team’s ability to perform under pressure”.
Jos Buttler’s Perspective
Team Preparation and Focus
England’s captain, Jos Buttler, shared his thoughts on the team’s preparation and maintaining focus. “Our preparation has been meticulous, and the players are in great spirits. We aim to stay composed and play our natural game,” said Buttler. He praised the efforts of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, stating, “Ben has been phenomenal with both bat and ball, and Jofra’s pace has added a significant edge to our bowling attack.”
Match Analysis
Pitch Report and Conditions
Having won the toss, England chose to bowl first. The pitch at the Providence Stadium in Guyana presented a fair mix between ball and bat, with a slight advantage for the seamers due to early moisture. However, as the game progressed, the pitch settled, favoring the batsmen with its true bounce and carry.
The partly cloudy weather, with a temperature of 28°C and humidity of 75%, created a pleasant playing atmosphere. Dew was expected to play a role in the second innings, making it challenging for the bowlers to grip the ball. The decision to bowl first aimed to exploit the initial pitch conditions, but the Indian batsmen adapted well to set a competitive total .
India’s Game Plan
India’s strategy centered on building a solid foundation with their top-order batsmen. Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav made significant contributions, scoring 57 off 39 balls and 47 off 36 balls, respectively. The middle order, supported by Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, added valuable runs towards the end.
Axar Patel, named Player of the Match, played a significant part in both bat and ball. , scoring 10 runs off 6 balls and taking 3 crucial wickets for 23 runs. India posted a total of 171/7 in their 20 overs. The Indian bowlers then executed their plan flawlessly, with Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel dismantling the English batting lineup, resulting in England being bowled out for 103, securing a 68-run victory for India.
England’s Approach
England relied on their aggressive top order, with Buttler and Phil Salt expected to set the pace. However, the Indian bowlers outperformed, making it difficult for England to chase the target. Jos Buttler acknowledged this in the post-match conference: “India certainly outplayed us. We maybe let them get 20-25 runs too many, and it was a challenging surface that they played well on” .
Summary:
IND won by 68 runs
Semi-final : T20 54 of 55
Player of the Match : Axar Patel (IND) 3/23 (4) & 10 (6)
IND: 171/7(20)
Rohit Sharma 57(39) Chris Jordan 3/37(3)
Suryakumar Yadav 47(36) Adil Rashid 1/25(4)
Hardik Pandya 23(13) Reece Topley 1/25(3)
ENG:103(16.4)
Harry Brook 25(19) Kuldeep Yadav 3/19(4)
Joss Buttler 23(15) Axar Patel 3/23(4)
Jofra Archer 21(15) Jasprit Bumrah 2/12 (2.4)
Scorecard of the Match
India 1st innings
| Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | |
| R.Sharma (C) | b Rashid | 57 | 39 | 6 | 2 | 146.15 |
| V.Kohli | b Topley | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Pant(wk) | c Bairstow b Curran | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Yadav | c Jordan b Archer | 47 | 36 | 4 | 2 | 130.56 |
| Pandya | c Curran b Jordan | 23 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 176.92 |
| Jadeja | not out | 17 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 188.89 |
| Dube | c Buttler b Jordan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Patel | c Salt b Jordan | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 166.67 |
| Arshdeep Singh | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 2lb,1w | 3 | ||||
| Total | 20 overs | 171-7 |
Yet to bat
- Yadav Bumrah
Fall of Wickets
- 19-1 (Virat Kohli, 2.4 ov)
- 40-2 (Rishabh Pant, 5.2 ov)
- 113-3 (Rohit Sharma, 13.4 ov)
- 124-4 (Suryakumar Yadav, 15.4 ov)
- 146-5 (Hardik Pandya, 17.4 ov)
- 146-6 (Shivam Dube, 17.5 ov)
- 170-7 (Axar Patel, 19.5 ov)
| Bowling | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Topley | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 8.33 |
| Archer | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 8.25 |
| Curran | 2 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 12.50 |
| Rashid | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 6.25 |
| Jordan | 3 | 0 | 37 | 3 | 12.33 |
| Livingstone | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 6.00 |
England 1st innings
| Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | |
| Salt | b Bumrah | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Buttler(c,wk) | c Pant b Patel | 23 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 153.33 |
| Ali | st Pant b Patel | 8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Bairstow | b Patel | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brook | b Yadav | 25 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 131.58 |
| Curran | lbw b Yadav | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Livingstone | run out | 11 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 68.75 |
| Jordan | Ibw b Yadav | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.0-0 |
| Archer | Ibw b Bumrah | 21 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 140.00 |
| Rashid | run out | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Topley | not out | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 2lb | 2 | ||||
| Total | 16.4 overs | 103 all out |
Yet to bat
Fall of Wickets
- 26-1 (Jos Buttler, 3.1 ov)
- 34-2 (Phil Salt, 4.4 ov)
- 35-3 (Jonny Bairstow, 5.1 ov)
- 46-4 (Moeen Ali, 7.1 ov)
- 49-5 (Sam Curran, 8.1 ov)
- 68-6 (Harry Brook, 10.4 ov)
- 72-7 (Chris Jordan, 12.2 ov)
- 86-8 (Liam Livingstone, 14.5 ov)
- 88-9 (Adil Rashid, 15.2 ov)
- 103-10 (Jofra Archer, 16.4 ov)
| Bowling | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Arshdeep Singh | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8.50 |
| Bumrah | 2.4 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 4.50 |
| Patel | 4 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 5.75 |
| Yadav | 4 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 4.75 |
| Jadeja | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 5.33 |
| Pandya | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14.00 |
Match details
- Toss: England won the toss and elected to field
- Venue: Guyana National Stadium, Providence
- Umpire: Chris Gaffaney
- Umpire: Rod Tucker
- TV umpire: Joel Wilson
- Match referee: Jeff Crowe
- Reserve umpire: Paul Reiffel
Quotes from the Captains
Rohit Sharma: “We have a balanced team and focus on playing good cricket. The semi-final is just another match, and we are ready to give our best”.
Jos Buttler: “The semi-final 2 is a significant challenge, but our team is prepared. We have the talent and the determination to make it to the final” .
Key Moments in the Tournament
The semi-final 2 clash between India and England in the T20 World Cup 2024 was a spectacle of strategic brilliance and individual heroics. India, led by Rohit Sharma, posted a competitive total of 171/7, thanks to crucial innings by Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja added valuable runs towards the end, setting a challenging target for England .
England’s chase faltered early, with Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah dismantling their top order. Axar, named Player of the Match, took 3 wickets for 23 runs, while Bumrah’s pace proved too much for the English batsmen. Kuldeep Yadav’s spin further crippled England, who were eventually bowled out for 103 in just 16.4 overs .
This victory propelled India into their third consecutive ICC tournament final, marking a significant turnaround from their loss to England in the 2022 semi-final. The Indian team showcased their depth and strategic planning, making them formidable contenders for the title against South Africa in the final .
Thank you @josbuttler ❤️
— Shreya (@shreyamatsharma) June 27, 2024
It was a good game, this definitely was cherry on the cake. #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/1ur0InxXv1
Expert Analysis
Cricketer Michael Vaughan, providing commentary during the semi-final, noted, “India’s performance was clinical. Rohit Sharma set the tone early, and the bowlers executed their plans perfectly. Kuldeep and Axar were outstanding with the ball, making it difficult for England to build momentum” .
Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman praised the Indian team, saying, “This was a complete team effort. Rohit and Suryakumar built the innings, and how the bowlers adapted to the conditions was commendable”. England’s captain, Jos Buttler, admitted post-match, “India certainly outplayed us.
We maybe let them get 20-25 runs too many, and it was a challenging surface that they played well on”. These expert analyses highlight the strategic brilliance and execution of the Indian team, contributing to their decisive victory in the semi-final.
Conclusion
The semi-final 2 between India vs England showcased strategic excellence and individual brilliance. With both teams displaying high-caliber performances, the match set the stage for a highly anticipated final. As the captains reflect on their journey, the cricketing world awaits the showdown.
Rohit Sharma to Lead India in Major Assignments Next Year, Confirms BCCI Secretary Jay Shah
BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed that Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from T20Is after leading Team India to the T20 World Cup title, will captain India in two significant assignments next year. Sharma’s leadership was pivotal in securing the T20 World Cup, showcasing his strategic brilliance and ability to inspire the team under pressure. His continued role as captain is seen as a move to maintain stability and build on the team’s recent success. This announcement has been well-received by fans and analysts, who praise Sharma’s experience and tactical understanding.
#BCCI secretary #JayShah confirmed that #RohitSharma, who recently from T20Is after leading #TeamIndia to the #T20WorldCup title, will captain India in two major assignments next year
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) July 7, 2024
Read more https://t.co/OPXCeWKNY5#CricketWithTOI pic.twitter.com/kYnIHYCK2u
