The Stage is Set:

The Second Semi-final of T20 World Cup 2024 promises to be a nail-biter affair as India takes on defending champions England at Georgetown, Guyana. Both teams will however want to reach the final as in 2022 when India lost to England. Indian side that had remained unbeaten so far in the tournament is staring at formidable English opposition that has exhibited prowess in times of hardship.

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Team Previews and Predicted XI:

India:

India has had a faultless passage through the tournament but with some challenges like the form of Virat Kohli. Kohli did not perform well in the tournament despite enjoying a good Indian Premier League season. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja has not done much with both bat and ball in the games played so far.

Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.

Player to Watch: Kuldeep Yadav who has taken wickets at regular intervals throughout middle ovrs is key.One arre he might be needed is when confronting with strong batting line up from England considering the fact that field is very good for spinners at Guyana.

England:

England has had a topsy-turvy tournament but have been at their best when it mattered most.Jos Buttler came out firing against the USA with explosive batting that reminded everyone of his capabilities.

Predicted XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (c & wk), Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Reece Topley, Adil Rashid.

Player to Watch: England need Jos Buttler to take his A game to this competition because his fireworks in the final group game say so. The match is basically on high throttle and one destructive spell by him might change everything in this one.

Head-to-Head and Venue Statistics:

India and England have met 23 times in T20Is, with India leading 12-11 over England. They are level in the T20 World Cups with two wins apiece. Guyana’s wicket is famous for being spinner friendly so sides must take advantage in the Powerplay periods.Over time, as the match progresses, it tends to get slower thereby posing challenges for batsmen in the middle overs.

Weather and Pitch Report:

As per the weather forecast we can expect intervals of clouds and sunshine that will be accompanied by light rains in the morning only. This means that an official reserve day is not available hence this game may spill into late hours if needs be. Considering bowling when required may help a team to manage uncertainties as a result of rainfall.

England Coach's Perspective:

For Matthew Mott, the head coach of England, he appreciates how challenging the present bunch of Indian players is as opposed to 2022 one they beat. He notes India’s newfound aggression, particularly in the Powerplay, as a key change.

They can be dissimilar in the manner that they approach different games especially during 2022 semi finals; Mott informed us “India is a very different team compared with what we faced in 2022 semifinal”. We cannot also overlook Rohit Sharma for India and Jos Buttler in England.

They can as well differ in the way they play in their respective teams asking for specific mentions of some players in that case “It’s a team that’s nothing like we’ve ever seen from them before. They’re far more aggressive; particularly during their power play overs,” said Mott.

In this regard; He added that; india’s key player is Rohit Sharma while Jos Buttler does that for England stressing their roles among others Mott was also worried about Guyana’s unknown conditions but had faith in his squad’s ability to adjust accordingly. “This is not our strongest venue but we are quite ready. India has demonstrated remarkable consistency over time and winning those big moments will determine everything else.”

Streaming Details:

The Hotstar App is set to stream live match action while Star Sports Network will carry a telecast on Thursday, June 27, starting from 8 PM (IST).

Final Thought:

India versus England semifinal is expected to be a captivating competition making it impossible for anyone not watching at all. For instance, Kuldeep Yadav and Jos Buttler have been stand out performers so far, hence fans are likely to be treated to an entertaining contest. As both sides aim to secure a spot in the final, the battle in Guyana will not only test their skills but also their nerves.

Go inside the mind of a captain!

Eoin Morgan analyses Suryakumar Yadav's highlights using the new ICC Immersive app on Apple Vision Pro.

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