T20 World Cup 2024: India thrash England by 68 runs to enter final

T20 World Cup 2024: India showcased their vast talent with a dominant performance, advancing to the T20 World Cup final by defeating England by 68 runs in their semi-final on Thursday.

Leading the way was captain Rohit Sharma, who scored an aggressive 57 off 39 balls. Supported by Suryakumar Yadav’s 47 off 36, India posted a total of 171 for seven after being asked to bat first in a rain-affected match.

In response, England was bowled out for 103 in 16.4 overs, setting up India’s title clash with first-time finalists South Africa in Barbados on Saturday. This marks India’s third entry into the tournament final.

Hardik Pandya contributed a crucial 23 off 13 balls, including two sixes. On a pitch with low bounce, Axar Patel (3/23) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/19) delivered brilliant bowling performances, tightening India’s grip on the match.

India avenged their 10-wicket loss to England in the 2022 semifinal. Rohit Sharma became the first Indian captain to lead the team in three ICC global finals within 12 months, following the 2023 World Test Championship and 2023 ODI World Cup.

Rohit’s strategic use of Axar in the powerplay paid off, as the spinner took two quick wickets. Kuldeep also excelled on a spinner-friendly pitch. England’s Jos Buttler (23 off 15) and Harry Brook (25 off 19) were the only batters to reach double figures, highlighting India’s dominance.

India remains unbeaten in the tournament, hoping for a strong performance from Virat Kohli in the final, despite his early dismissal for 9 off 9 balls in the semi-final.

The match faced interruptions due to rain, delaying the start by an hour and 15 minutes and causing another long halt when India was 65 for two in eight overs. Despite the disruptions, Rohit adapted well to the conditions, playing a composed innings and setting the pace for other batters.

Rohit and Suryakumar built a crucial 73-run partnership before Rohit was dismissed by a googly from Adil Rashid. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja (17 not out off 9) added vital runs in the final overs, with Axar’s six off Jordan in the last over pushing India’s total past 170.

India scored 53 runs in the last five overs, securing a strong position and ultimately clinching a convincing victory over England. (With inputs from PTI)