England slight favourite due to its current form

The last time India played England in a semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium, Graham Gooch swept his way to a magnificent century, and England ended defending champions India’s dream of contesting a final at home. That was, of course, a One-Day International of 50 overs.

This time, the defending champions play England in a semifinal, albeit in a T20 World Cup. In the previous two semifinals of the T20 World Cup, these teams clashed with mixed results. England won by a thumping margin of 10 wickets in Australia in 2022, and India beat England comfortably in the West Indies in 2024.

The teams are well matched this time too and it could well be a humdinger of a game. Both haven’t got off to the best of starts in the batting PowerPlay and it has been the brilliance of an individual — like Suryakumar Yadav against the USA, Ishan Kishan against Pakistan and Sanju Samson against the West Indies — that has given some heft to the Indian totals. Similarly, Harry Brook’s century against Pakistan took England home in a tight finish.

The pitch at Wankhede is usually good for batting. There’s a fair bit of carry for the bowlers who bend their backs and some help for those who give it a tweak. If England rely on Jofra Archer, Sam Curran and Adil Rashid to control the Indian stroke makers, the home team will depend on Jasprit Bumrah to put the brakes on Brook and his boys. Rashid is cleverly bowling slower than he usually does and is getting turn and bounce, while Will Jacks is having a dream tournament with both bat and ball.

England were a bit ragged in the field in their last Super Eight match against New Zealand and India, too, have dropped more chances than champions should. England, in their current form, are slight favourites, but India will be buoyed by their highest successful T20 World Cup chase against the West Indies. The PowerPlays will be decisive, as usual, unless there’s a sublime innings to finish off the game. 

(Professional Management Group)