3 player battles to watch out for in India vs England, Semifinal 2 of 2024 T20 World Cup ft. Rohit Sharma vs Mark Wood
India are set to face England in a repeat of the T20 World Cup semifinal from a couple of years ago. The two teams will lock horns in Guyana on Thursday, June 27.
While the rain threat looms large on the game, one would hope for play to be possible because of the world-class players on showing from the two sides. The last time the two teams played in the semifinal, England thrashed India by 10 wickets and the Men in Blue will be keen on avenging that defeat.
On that note, let's take a look at the three match-ups from the T20 World Cup semifinal that could decide which of the two former champions would progress to the finale:
#3 Rishabh Pant vs Adil Rashid
Adil Rashid has been Jos Buttler's go-to guy in the T20 World Cup and has given his side some crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs. His figures of 1/20 against the West Indies were crucial in getting England that massive win in the Super Eight stage.
India will know the threat that Rashid possesses and will hope that left-handers like Rishabh Pant can counter it with their belligerent display. Pant has scored 26 runs in the 17 balls he has faced from Rashid in T20Is so far and is yet to be dismissed by the leg-spinner.
India successfully managed to dominate Australia's Adam Zampa in their previous encounter and they would likely try and put Adil Rashid under similar pressure straightaway.
#2 Jos Buttler vs Jasprit Bumrah
Jos Buttler was a thorn in India's side the last time the two teams met in the semifinal as he scored a staggering 80* off just 49 balls. However, the Men in Blue didn't have the services of Jasprit Bumrah in that encounter.
Bumrah is in the form of his life and it will be interesting to see how Rohit Sharma uses him against the explosive pairing of Buttler and Phil Salt. In T20Is, Buttler has scored just three runs off Bumrah's 10 deliveries and has been dismissed twice.
Even in the IPL, the England captain has scored just 68 runs in the 72 balls that the star Indian speedster has bowled and has been dismissed twice. The Men in Blue will be hoping that Bumrah gets Buttler before the latter goes berserk.
#1 Rohit Sharma vs Mark Wood
Rohit Sharma played arguably one of his best T20I knocks against Australia in the previous game and proved why he isn't done yet in this format. His 92 off just 41 balls completely blew away the Aussie attack and showed just what he is capable of when in full flow.
England do have the express pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood to try and get the veteran opener out early. Wood has done well against Rohit in T20Is, conceding just 24 runs in 18 balls bowled, and has also dismissed the Indian skipper once.
Knowing that Rohit Sharma will be committed to playing an ultra-attacking brand of cricket, England will feel they will have an opportunity with Wood's pace to hurry the batter and make early inroads.