🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: Semi Final 2 - M54: India vs England@ 8:00PM IST🏏 - Page 2

England, on the other hand, have been consumed of late by an entirely different emotion. The fear of failure hadn't been a particularly familiar bedfellow throughout their years of white-ball bottom-feeding, but with so much silverware there to lose, they seemed paralysed by anxiety throughout the 50-over World Cup, and again in their formless group-stage loss to the now-absent Australians in Barbados.

Now, however, you wonder if the fulfilment of the bare minimum of the squad's expectations - a fourth consecutive T20 World Cup semi-final - can unleash something different in the psyche of a group of players who clearly know what it takes to get across the line. India haven't won a World Cup since 2011; South Africa and Afghanistan on the other side of the draw have never won one at all. England could yet be in the running for a third title in five years.

In the spotlight - Rohit, Buttler, Rashid, Kuldeep

In a match of such high stakes, it's impossible to look past the influence of the two captains - opening bats and icons in their own right, and two men who have hit a vein of form that has the power to dictate their team's prospects.

Rohit Sharma did just that in his smackdown of Australia in St Lucia, throwing caution to the wind - quite literally - in his calculated assault on Mitchell Starc, and accelerating ever deeper into his day's work, in the unfettered manner that has been his calling card ever since that notoriously reticent display in Adelaide in 2022. Rohit's conscious breaking of India's milestone-orientated mould could yet prove to be his most important legacy as captain, especially if he can land the trophy that has eluded his country since the man himself was a rookie in 2007.

Jos Buttler, by contrast, hasn't yet shied away from his right to find his feet in any given innings - and his dovetailing with Phil Salt helps hugely in that regard - but his brutal 83 from 38 balls against USA was the sort of range-hitting display that his England teams have habitually drilled themselves to produce in the nets. Perhaps more than any other contemporary great, Buttler is a mood player - prone to deep introspection when his game goes awry, as was the case in a woeful 50-over World Cup campaign, but capable of astonishing peaks when his mind is in the right place. He's two games away from back-to-back T20 titles, and right now, it feels as though that prospect is empowering him.

Kuldeep Yadav has been at the top of his game this World Cup•CREIMAS

Standing in the way of both men and their teams, however, will be two wristspinners in complete command of their respective games. Adil Rashid was England's key bowler in the 2022 T20 World Cup knockouts, returning a combined analysis of 3 for 42 in eight overs against India and Pakistan, and having started a touch tentatively in the group stage, he's grown into the tournament with an impeccable command of flight, pace and variation - with his googly rarely failing to hit its mark.

Set against him, however, is the equally wily Kuldeep Yadav, whose scarcity value as a left-arm wristspinner gives him added power to contort the unwary - as England's Test team discovered to their cost in India earlier this year. Buttler's own record against Kuldeep - 87 runs off 63 deliveries for three dismissals in all T20s, is a sign of the threat he could pose.

India have known all tournament long that a Guyana semi-final beckoned if they could do the needful in the Super Eight, and having successfully switched to a spin-heavy line-up since coming through their US-based group stage, they look primed to exploit the Providence conditions. Hardik Pandya's form as the third seamer provides options where required, and an unchanged XI is surely on the cards.

England, by contrast, may be tempted to tinker with the balance that served them well through the Super Eight, in the expectation that four seamers is at least one more than the conditions will merit. Tom Hartley offers a spare left-arm spin option, but England's inability to hand him a debut in their rain-affected home series against Pakistan means he's unlikely to be risked now. More likely is a reinforcement of their batting, amid faith that six front-line bowlers will suffice. Will Jacks does offer an additional spin option, but Ben Duckett's proven prowess in turning conditions could be an attractive addition.

Will the rain-rules rule?

Guyana has been a tricky venue for run-scoring throughout the T20 World Cup, with a run rate of 6.20 and an average of 14.67. Though these stats are partially skewed by two heavy defeats for Uganda, they also include serial semi-finalists New Zealand being 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, which is bettered among the regular venues only by Arnos Vale in St Vincent.

Unlike the first semi-final 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, because the match is slated for a 10.30am start, there are 250 minutes of extra time to play with, meaning a game of some description should be possible barring heavy rain all day. A minimum of 10 overs per side will be required to constitute a match.

If, however, the match is washed out, India will progress to the final after topping their group in the Super Eight.

Go India go

Win today’s match without fail

Most likely it seems that this would be abandoned due to Rain / Wet Outfield

Today rain will win the match

Australian Players are playing golf after getting eliminated from WC and some Indian fans are surprised that how can they chill instead of grieving 🧐

Thanks for The tag!

All The Best to both teams