'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACBP/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAkhIX/8QAIBAAAgIBAwUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAYABREjMTNB0v/aAAgBAQABPwCDGd1jhqWayUUsJ4WRW6fokgvweANS4JkjSOx3ZSSe4iH3r//EABkRAAEFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAxQxwf/aAAgBAgEBPwCS5WIf/8QAGhEAAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIABBGh0f/aAAgBAwEBPwBrDli2dns//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Team India banished the demons of their 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal loss to England as they meted out the same fate to Jos Buttler and Co. in the 2024 edition of the tournament. The Men in Blue ran out winners by 68 runs at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday, June 27.
It was a complete performance from India, who dominated the contest despite losing the toss. Asked to bat, they put up an imposing 171/7, a score distinctly above par on a tricky track. The bowlers did their job, and England were never really in the hunt.
On that note, here are three players who starred and two who flopped in the India vs England 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal match.
#5 Star - Axar Patel
Axar Patel was always going to have a big role to play against England's band of right-handers, and he did his job to perfection.
Trending
The left-arm spinner broke the game open with two wickets in the powerplay, those of Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow. He kept things tight around the off-stump and let his subtle variations do the talking. Axar also picked up Moeen Ali's wicket to well and truly derail the chase.
Axar was adjudged the Player of the Match, after having also contributed a handy 10 runs with the bat.
#4 Flop - Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli just can't seem to get his shot selection right in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The ace batter hoicked one from Reece Topley, only to miss it and see his timber shattered.
Kohli's miserable run in the tournament has not only been encapsulated by his lack of runs, but also by his evident lack of rhythm at the crease. Against England, he played and missed multiple times, and wasn't decisive with his shot-making at all.
Only one game remains for Kohli to salvage what has been a forgettable run.
#3 Star - Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma's campaign has headed in the opposite direction. The Indian skipper has truly come into his own in the last two matches and followed up his blitz against Australia with a hugely important knock against England.
Rohit showed intent from the start, but not to the point of unnecessary risk. He cleared the infield, collected twos, and put away anything in his arc. The opening batter even struck a couple of delightful boundaries off spin, a bowling type he has struggled with for ages in the middle overs.
Rohit was castled by an Adil Rashid googly, but he had done his job by then.
#2 Flop - Rishabh Pant
Has the Rishabh Pant at No. 3 experiment worked so far in the 2024 T20 World Cup? It's hard to say, with a couple of important knocks punctuated by frustrating failures. One of those came against England on Thursday.
Pant played six balls, which yielded four runs. He spooned a simple catch to midwicket off an otherwise unthreatening Sam Curran, who leaked 19 runs in his second over. The southpaw's high-variance nature and slow starts have been confusing to watch.
#1 Star - Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav was once again at his sensational best as his three-fer ripped through England's middle and lower-middle order.
The left-arm wrist-spinner came on immediately after the powerplay and bowled his four overs on the trot. He prised out Sam Curran, Harry Brook and Chris Jordan, all of whom struggled to pick him from the hand.
Kuldeep has been one of the world's best spinners for a considerable period now.
Looking for fast live cricket scores? Download CricRocket and get fast score updates, top-notch commentary in-depth match stats & much more! 🚀☄️
