3 best India-England matches in T20 World Cups
India will face England in the second semi-final of the 2024 T20 World Cup at Province Stadium in Guyana on Thursday, June 27. The Men in Blue have not lost a single game in the ongoing tournament. They defeated Australia in their last Super-Eight match to finish at the top of Group 1.
On the other hand, defending champions England won two games out of three to qualify for the semi-finals. Jos Buttler’s side defeated the USA in their last outing. While chasing a target of 116, the English team won by 10 wickets with 62 balls remaining. Buttler was brilliant, as he remained unbeaten on 83 off 38 balls.
India and England have clashed four times in the T20 World Cups, with each team winning two games. They last faced each other in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final at Adelaide Oval, which ended up being a one-sided contest. Batting first, the Men in Blue put up a total of 168 in 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya.
In response, England's openers were on fire. Alex Hales remained unbeaten on 86 off 47 balls, while Buttler scored 80* off 49, as they won by 10 wickets with four overs remaining. England then defeated Pakistan in the final to win their second T20 World Cup trophy. They won their first in 2010.
As India prepare to take on England in the semi-final, in this article, we will look at the three best matches between the two giant teams in the T20 World Cups.
#3 Harbhajan Singh starred as India defeated England by 90 runs in 2012
England won the toss and asked India to bat first in the 10th match of the 2012 T20 World Cup, played in Colombo. India lost Irfan Pathan early, but Gautam Gambhir (45) and Virat Kohli (40) stitched a 57-run partnership to get things going. Rohit Sharma was the star performer for India with the bat; he remained unbeaten on 55 off 33 balls, as Men in Blue scored 170 runs in their 20 overs.
In response, England didn’t start well as Pathan took a couple of wickets in his first two overs. Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh ripped through the English middle order. The turbanator took four wickets as England were bowled out for 80 runs. India won the match by 90 runs, and the off-spinner was given the Player of the Match award for his amazing spell.
#2 England got over the line in a nervy encounter in 2009
After being asked to bat first in the 20th match of the 2009 T20 World Cup, played at Lord’s, England scored 153 runs, thanks to a decent 46-run innings from Kevin Pietersen. For India, it was Harbhajan Singh who took three wickets.
India lost Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina cheaply. Gautam Gambhir scored a run-a-ball 26, while Ravindra Jadeja struggled big time as the India all-rounder scored 25 runs off 35 balls.
The Men in Blue needed 60 off the last five, with MS Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan on the crease. It all came down to the last over, with India needing 19 to win. For England, it was Ryan Sidebottom who held his nerves as the English side won the match by three runs.
#1 Yuvraj Singh led the charge as India got the better of England in 2007
In the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup, the Men in Blue faced England in the 21st match in Durban. Batting first, India started brilliantly as Virender Sehwag (68) and Gautam Gambhir (58) stitched a 136-run opening partnership.
However, it was Yuvraj Singh who stole the show. The 19th over of the Indian innings saw the left-handed batter create history. Yuvraj hit six sixes in an over of Stuart Broad, as he scored the fastest fifty in T20 cricket off just 12 balls. India were brilliant, as they put up a big total of 218 on the scoreboard.
In response, several English batters got good starts but were not able to convert them into big innings, falling short by 18 runs. Irfan Pathan was the pick of the bowlers. The left-arm seamer took three wickets as India won a historic match. They beat Pakistan in the final to lift the World Cup.