Table of contents
It’s India vs. England again in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final. After the first semifinal between South Africa and Afghanistan, it’s time for the second semifinal. The world’s number one T20 team, India, will play against the defending champions, England. The match will happen tonight at 8 p.m. Indian Standard Time in Providence Stadium, Guyana.
The anticipated India vs. England clash will decide who will face South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 finals. South Africa won the first semifinal by defeating Afghanistan by nine wickets today. With this win, South Africa eliminated Afghanistan and advanced to the finals. In the finals, it’s South Africa vs. the winner of today’s clash.
India vs. England Again In The Semifinal
This is not the first time that both teams are facing each other in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup. The last time India and England faced each other in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup was in 2022 in Australia. England won that encounter by 10 wickets. This time, the venue and players are different, but the intent is the same: to win no matter what.
It will be usual for everyone to have some kind of deja vu in the India vs. England match. As they have faced each other before, both teams would have some kind of clarity as to how to play against each other. No one had expected that England would smash India by 10 wickets in 2022. But now, it’s India’s time to return the favor wholly tonight.
Rain To Play Spoilsport Tonight!
Tonight, two of the world’s best white-ball teams will play in a highly anticipated match. However, rain will try to ruin the semifinal. Ahead of the game, literal dark clouds are lurking over the stadium. Reports predict heavy rains during the India vs. England match.
According to weather.com, there are high chances of rain playing spoilsport during the game, around 60% of the match. The much-awaited clash will start at 8 p.m. IST, and rain chances go up to 58% at midnight in Guyana. Which indicates that there will be a stoppage in the play.
Rain Threatens, But No Reserve Day
In the first semifinal today, a reserve day was scheduled in case rain washed out the match. But in the second semifinal of India vs. England, there is no reserve day. If rain does come and the match is washed out, the result will depend on other factors. If rain washes out the match, the team finishing higher in their Super Eight group will qualify for the final.
This will happen according to clause 16.10.7 of the ICC’s playing conditions for the T20 World Cup 2024. India topped Group A by winning all the matches, whereas England lost a match and is second in their group. This means that if the match gets washed out, India will advance to the final. Besides England, everyone wants the match to be a full 40-over contest.
India vs. England – Likely Playing Eleven
Team India is unbeaten in the tournament, but how they will play tonight matters. On that note, Team India is in form, but some players are a topic of concern. Virat Kohli’s bat has been quiet throughout the tournament, but in knockout matches of past years, he has not scored below 50. Shivam Dube is also a concern. Hardik Pandya provides stability in the batting. While India’s bowling is lethal, as we saw throughout the tournament.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh.
England is a solid white-ball team, but they lack in some areas. Their batting is deep, and they have some big hitters who can turn the match around. Openers Salt and Buttler can score quick runs in the powerplay and after. Bairstow’s highest score is 48, and his bat has been quiet throughout the tournament. While Brook and Livingston have not scored decent runs. England has three spin options and four fast-medium pacers in the bowling line-up.
England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (c) (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Liam Livingston, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Reece Topley/Will Jacks.