By: Aditya Ahuja
India stormed into the finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup by defeating England by a massive 68 runs on Friday (IST).
Despite incessant rain and a dry pitch, India overcame their past demons from the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal, where England had defeated them by 10 wickets.
Captain Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav delivered outstanding performances with the bat, before the spinners took over to scuttle England’s chase.
After winning the toss, England captain Jos Buttler elected to field first.
India faced early setbacks with the loss of Virat Kohli (9) and Rishabh Pant (4) in the powerplay. However, Sharma (57) and Yadav (47) built a solid partnership of 73 runs off 50 balls.
Hardik Pandya (23) and Ravindra Jadeja (17*) also player crucial camoes, helping India post an above part total of 171 for seven wickets in Guyana.
In response, England started off well, with Buttler taking on Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh. However, Axar Patel provided the breakthrough by dismissing Buttler for 22. From that point, India did not look back and and kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Patel was supported brilliant by his spin partner Kuldeep Yadav, who also picked three key wickets.
Team India eventually bowled out the reigning champions for 103 in 16.4 overs.
Axar Patel was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his vital three-wicket haul and a quickfire 10 runs off 6 balls, which included a much needed blow in the final over.
This win marks India’s third entry into a T20 World Cup final, after 2007 in which they won against Pakistan and then in 2014 against Sri Lanka which the lost.
India’s victory marks their third entry into a T20 World Cup final, following their triumph against Pakistan in 2007 and their loss to Sri Lanka in 2014.
Brief score: India 171/7 (Rohit Sharma 57, Suryakumar Yadav 47; Chris Jordan 3-37) vs England 103 (Harry Brook 25, Jos Buttler 23; Axar Patel 3-23, Kuldeep Yadav 3-19).