Virat Kohli and Arshdeep Singh danced together after India’s win© X (Twitter)

Navjot Singh Sidhu poked fun at Arshdeep Singh ahead of the T20 World Cup final.© X (Twitter)

India are all set to take on England in the 2nd Semi-Final on June 27 at the Providence Stadium, in Guyana . Considering their recent form, India are slight favourites against England while the English will fancy their chances as well. Ahead of this mouth-watering contest, let’s have a look at India’s predicted XI against England.

Predicted XI

Rohit Sharma (c)

Skipper Rohit Sharma is currently the highest run-scorer for India in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The explosive top-order batter has smashed 191 runs in six innings so far this season at an impressive strike rate of 159.16.

Furthermore, Rohit has had a decent record against England in T20 internationals. He has amassed 410 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 138.98 against the Englishmen and would like to add more to that tally on Thursday.

Virat Kohli

Former Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, has been through a lean patch in the ongoing tournament. He has scored 66 runs in six innings in the 2024 T20 World Cup and will be hoping to find top gear in the all-important knockout matches that are upcoming.

He has normally had an upper hand batting against England. Kohli has smashed 639 runs in 20 innings against them averaging at 39.93 and a strike rate of 135.66. Additionally, he has played a T20I at the Providence Stadium, scoring a 45-ball 59 and would be raring to go big in the Semi-Final game.

Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper)

Swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant, has been a bright spark in this edition of the World Cup with 167 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 132.53. Surprisingly, Pant is yet to score a fifty in this tournament.

Coming back from a year-long injury, Pant had a 446-run IPL 2024 campaign for Delhi Capitals, which made him the first-choice wicketkeeper in India’s starting XI for the T20 World Cup 2024.

The southpaw is currently performing well at No.3 and could be an X-factor against England.

Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav is also enjoying decent form with the bat as the hard hitter has scored 149 runs in six innings so far at a strike rate of 139.25.

After back-to-back fifties against the USA and Afghanistan, respectively, Suryakumar played an important 31-run cameo against Australia, which kept the run rate healthy for India.

The No.1 T20I batter in the world has smashed 274 runs against England in six innings at a strike rate of 191.60 and will be looking forward to scoring big against them.

Shivam Dube

“If the pitch suits spinners, Dube will be a weapon,” former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming said ahead of the England clash. “He can change the game with just two or three big hits,” he added.

Shivam Dube’s ability to play spin coupled with his IPL 2024 campaign, where he smashed 396 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 162.29 is what has seen him in the playing XI for India.

The hard-hitting all-rounder struggled in the USA leg of the tournament but has managed to score 106 runs in six matches. He could prove effective against England’s spinners on Thursday.

Hardik Pandya

After all the chaos around his IPL 2024 stint with Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya has enjoyed a solid T20 World Cup with bat and ball.

The star all-rounder has made a strong comeback, scoring 116 runs in four innings at an impressive strike rate of 145 and picking eight wickets with the ball. His presence will truly play a vital role in India’s starting XI against England.

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja’s poor form in the T20 World Cup could be one of the biggest concerns for India’s think tank ahead of the semi-final. However, his all-round capabilities, fielding ability and vast experience on the international circuit cannot be overlooked.

The southpaw has only managed 16 runs in three innings and taken one scalp in the tournament so far. Needless to say, Jadeja will be looking to produce a top-quality display against England.

Axar Patel

Bowling all-rounder Axar Patel’s contributions to India’s success have been crucial in the T20 World Cup, scoring 35 runs in three innings and picking up five wickets.

Axar also had a decent IPL 2024 campaign, taking 11 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 7.65 for Delhi Capitals. The left-arm spinner alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Jadeja could be lethal against English batters.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav has carried his IPL 2024 success to the T20 World Cup by picking up seven wickets in just three matches. Additionally, with 66 wickets in 38 T20Is, Kuldeep has become an integral part of India’s spin-bowling unit of late.

He scalped the crucial wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell in his last appearance against Australia in the tournament and can be expected to be amongst the wickets again when he takes on England.

Jasprit Bumrah

India pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, has been on a dream run with the ball ever since he returned from his injury. He was ultimately at his best in the IPL 2024 as well, picking up 20 wickets for Mumbai Indians.

With an excellent economy rate of 4.08 and taking 11 scalps in six matches, Bumrah is currently enjoying his best T20 World Cup campaign. He has also led India’s pace battery in this tournament and is likely to be among the wickets when he faces England batters in Guyana.

Arshdeep Singh

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has been the regular source of wickets for India, especially in the early and closing stages of an innings.

With an economy of 7.41 and 15 wickets, Arshdeep is currently one of the highest wicket-takers in the tournament and will be a player to watch out for against England.

IND vs ENG Live: Squads –

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal

England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w/c), Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Mark Wood, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Tom Hartley

Ahead of the India vs England T20 World Cup semi-final, a very strong accusation from Pakistan great Inzamam ul Haq went viral. On his target was Indian cricket team pace bowler Arshdeep Singh and the former Pakistan captain claimed that Arshdeep Singh was getting reverse swing due to some ‘serious work’ on the ball. Indirectly, he meant that Arshdeep was unfairly tampering the ball, which is a punishable offence by the ICC.

Speaking to a Pakistani news channel, Inzamam accused Arshdeep and the Indian side of working on the ball, which helped the lanky pacer generate a reverse swing in his second spell.

“When Arshdeep was bowling the 15th over, it was reverse swinging. Is that too early with the new ball? This means the ball was ready by the 12th-13th over, it was capable of reversing. It was reverse-swinging in the 15th. Umpires need to keep their eyes open,” Inzamam told the news channel.

Inzamam further stated that, “If Pakistan bowlers did this, there would have been hue and cry. We know how to reverse it really well. If Arshdeep can reverse it in the 15th, there’s been some serious work done on the ball.

“If Bumrah does it (you can understand), his action is like that. When others with a specific action or speed do it, it means the ball has been prepared in a special way,” added Inzamam.

Rohit was asked about Inzamam’s comment in the pre-match media interaction here and he dismissed it, advising the former batter to have an open mind.

“Abhi kya jawab du iska mein bhai (what answer should I give, brother). Wickets are so dry (here) as you are playing in a sunny weather. All teams are getting reverse (swing). Sometimes dimaag ko kholna zaroori hai (Need to open your mind). You need to understand what the conditions are. This is not Australia or England. That’s what I will say,” Rohit said, when asked to respond to Inzamam’s observation.

Inzamam ul haq “Dimag ko kholo Bhikhari”

ROHIT SHARMA

“IND vs ENG”#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/ZM2K1EVCVo

— Areeba Khan (@Areebakhan1325) June 26, 2024

India defeated 2021 T20 World Cup champions Australia by 24 runs in Gros Islet on Monday to set up a semifinal clash against England with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh grabbing three wickets to halt the Kangaroos’ charge in the chase of 205.

India scored 205 batting first and then restricted Australia to 181/7.

Australia were in the game and required 81 runs in eight overs with eight wickets in hand. But they lost the plot during Arshdeep’s second spell, which fetched him two wickets in the 16th and 18th overs.

With PTI inputs

Former Pakistan captains Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saleem Malik have accused India pacer Arshdeep Singh and the team of altering the conditions of the ball during their T20 World Cup Super 9 match against Australia. Inzamam said that India must have tampered the ball in the middle overs to help Arshdeep in getting reverse swing from the new ball. Inzamam and Malik also slammed the umpires for not staying alert to the situation, with the latter even suggesting that the officials do favour certain teams, adding that India are one of them.

Inzamam pointed out that getting reverse swing with the new ball is difficult, unless the condition is altered.

“When Arshdeep Singh was bowling the 15th over, there was reverse swing. With the new ball, it is too early. This means that the ball was tampered around the 12th or 13th over to get reverse swing. So, the umpires should keep their eyes open,” Inzamam said during a discussion on 24 News.

“There is a saying that the umpires keep their eyes closed for some teams, and India are one of them. I remeber getting fined for reporting a similar situation during a game against Pakistan,” Malik pointed out.

Inzamam also suggested that the umpires would have taken extremeif there was a Pakistan player in that situation.

“If this was the case with the Pakistan bowlers, there would have been a lot of discussion on the same. If Arshdeep’s ball is reversing in the 15th over, it is evident that something was done to the ball,” Inzamam added.

Two former Pakistan captain Saleem Malik and Inzmam ul haq accused Arshdeep Singha nd India of ball Tempering.

2023: @MdShami11 ke ball me Chip thi: Hasan Raza

2024: Arshdeep ke ball reverse ho raha hai mtlb ball pe serious kism ka kaam hua hai: Inzmam ul haq pic.twitter.com/YXmIuPatrd

— Varun Giri (@Varungiri0) June 25, 2024

Meanwhile, Arshdeep leads the wicket-taking charts for India in the ongoing tournament. With figures of 3 for 37, Arshdeep also climbed to the second spot in the tournament’s wicket-takers chart with 15 wickets in six games with Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi sitting on top with 16 wickets in seven games.

After the match, Arshdeep gave credit to Jasprit Bumrah for his brilliant bowling throughout the tournament.

“I guess a lot of credit goes to Jassi bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) because he puts a lot of pressure on the batters – he gives, what, three or four runs in an over – so batters are coming hard against me, and I just have to try and bowl my best ball and there are a lot of chances of getting wickets there,” he said.

India vs Australia Live: Squads –

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj.

Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis.

Suryakumar Yadav’s much-needed fifty and Jasprit Bumrah’s reliability with the ball helped India kickstart their T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 campaign on a high as the Men in Blue registered a 47-run victory against Afghanistan at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown on Thursday. The Rohit Sharma-led India are currently placed second on the Super Eight Group 1 Standing and are gearing up to take on another Asian rival in Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on June 22. A win against the Bangla Tigers will almost guarantee India a semi-final spot.

Ahead of this exciting contest, let’s have a look at India’s predicted XI against Bangladesh.

Predicted XI

Rohit Sharma (c)

India skipper Rohit Sharma has had an underwhelming run since he scored an unbeaten half-century against Ireland in India’s tournament opener. However, the explosive opener has managed to score 76 runs in the tournament so far.

With over 4000 runs and a strike rate of 139.32 in T20Is, Rohit is always a go-to opener in the format. Furthermore, the Hitman has smashed 454 runs at a strike rate of 141 against Bangladesh in T20Is and will be looking to continue his dominance over them.

Virat Kohli

T20 World Cups have always brought the best out of Virat Kohli the batter. However, the Indian superstar has found it difficult to score runs this time in the USA and the Caribbean.

That said, with an outstanding average of almost 50, Kohli has dominated the 20-over format with more than 4000 runs to his name. Additionally, he averages 96.50 against Bangladesh and it is only a matter of time before Kohli finds form in the ongoing tournament.

Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper)

Rishabh Pant is probably enjoying his best World Cup campaign since his international debut for India. Returning from an injury, Pant smashed 446 runs in IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals to make himself the first-choice wicketkeeper in India’s starting XI for the T20 World Cup.

The southpaw has scored 116 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 131.81 in this T20 World Cup. His free-flowing style and intent with the bat will be an X-factor for India against Bangladesh.

Suryakumar Yadav

The No.1 T20I batter in the world, Suryakumar Yadav is an integral member of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 team. His unorthodox approach with the bat at No.4 provides both aggression and stability to India’s middle order.

Suryakumar’s back-to-back fifties have boosted his confidence as the swashbuckling batter has now scored 112 runs in four matches at an average of 37.33. Indian fans will want SKY to continue his sublime form in the tournament.

Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube enjoyed a great IPL 2024 having scored 396 runs and was selected for the T20 World Cup squad due to his CSK performances. His power-hitting and handy medium pace offer versatility and all-round options to the Indian team.

Apart from a crucial 31-run cameo against the USA, the southpaw has struggled in the tournament so far and with a Super 8 fixture against Bangladesh on the cards, he will be raring to make the most of his opportunity.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik had a topsy-turvy IPL season with Mumbai Indians. He wasn’t great with the bat but did take 11 wickets. However, he’s a part of the team because his role as a finisher and medium-fast bowler provides balance to the Indian side.

The all-rounder has taken seven wickets in four innings at an economy of 5.57 and is one of the highest wicket-takers for India in the T20 World Cup 2024. He even showed glimpses of returning to form with the bat with a 24-ball 32 against Afghanistan and will be a player to watch against Bangladesh.

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round capabilities have provided depth to India’s playing XI in the ongoing T20 World Cup. However, the star all-rounder hasn’t been able to live up to expectations in his four matches so far.

The southpaw has only managed seven runs in two innings and taken just one scalp in the tournament so far. Needless to say, he will be looking to make his presence felt against Bangladesh.

Axar Patel

Bowling all-rounder Axar Patel had a decent IPL 2024 campaign before heading to the T20 World Cup. The left-arm spinner took 11 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 7.65 for Delhi Capitals.

Axar has taken 53 T20I wickets in 56 matches for India and is a go-to spinner in white-ball formats on his day. Interestingly, he has picked up a wicket in each of the games in this tournament and could prove to be a handy option against Bangladesh with both bat and ball.

Kuldeep Yadav

Left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav had a great IPL 2024 campaign for Delhi Capitals. With 61 wickets in 36 T20Is for India, Kuldeep is currently one of the best leg spinners in the world.

He scalped two wickets against Afghanistan in his last appearance in the tournament and can be expected to be amongst the wickets again against Bangladesh.

Jasprit Bumrah

With an excellent economy rate of 3.46, Jasprit Bumrah has taken eight wickets in the T20 World Cup 2024 and is currently leading India’s bowling unit with aplomb. His class was on display against Afghanistan as he finished with three wickets and bowled 20 dot balls.

The lethal pacer won’t be someone Bangladesh batters will be looking to face and one can expect another top performance by the fast bowler as he looks to add to his 82 T20I scalps.

Arshdeep Singh

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has been enjoying himself in the 2024 T20 World Cup and has been a constant source of wickets for India, especially in the early and closing stages of an innings.

With an economy of 6.93, Arshdeep has taken 10 wickets in the tournament for India. He recorded his best bowling figures in T20Is (4/9) against the USA and will be keen to continue showcasing strong displays when India faces the Bangla Tigers.

Afghanistan will face India in the 43rd game of the T20 World Cup, 2024. This exciting match is scheduled for Thursday at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, and will begin at 08:00 PM IST. Afghanistan and India are set to clash in what promises to be a compelling contest. Afghanistan has played 4 matches in the tournament. With three wins and one loss, Afghanistan qualified for the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 stage after finishing second in the Group C standings with six points from four games.

On the other hand, India topped Group A standings to book their place in the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 stage. India won three matches while the other game was abandoned.

The last encounter between these two teams was in the 3rd T20I of Afghanistan’s tour of India in 2024. In that match, Fareed Ahmad was the top fantasy performer for Afghanistan with 87 points, while Rohit Sharma led for India with an impressive 174 fantasy points.

Recent Performances:

Afghanistan: In their most recent match against the West Indies, Afghanistan was defeated by 104 runs. Gulbadin Naib was the standout fantasy player for Afghanistan, scoring 70 points.

India: India’s last match in this series saw them beat the USA by 7 wickets. Arshdeep Singh was the top fantasy player for India with 126 points.

Key Players to Watch:

Afghanistan:

Fazalhaq Farooqi

A left-arm fast-medium bowler who has taken 12 wickets in his last 5 matches, averaging 7.75. Despite a mixed record against India, his recent form makes him a key player for Afghanistan.

Ibrahim Zadran

A right-handed top-order batsman, Zadran has scored 161 runs in his last 5 matches, averaging 32.2 per match.

Rashid Khan

A leg break googly bowler who has taken 4 wickets in his last 3 matches, averaging 21.8. His experience and skill will be crucial for Afghanistan.

India:

Virat Kohli

A right-handed top-order batsman, Kohli has scored 85 runs in his last 5 matches, averaging 17 per match. Despite a dip in form, his potential to deliver in crucial matches makes him a key player for India.

Rohit Sharma

A right-handed top-order batsman who has scored 159 runs in his last 5 matches, averaging 39.75 runs per match. His consistent performance and leadership are vital for India’s success.

Jasprit Bumrah

A right-arm fast bowler who has taken 6 wickets in his last 4 matches, averaging 9.5. Bumrah’s effectiveness against Afghanistan, having taken a wicket in their recent encounters, adds to India’s bowling strength.

Conclusion

This match is expected to be a riveting contest as both teams are highly motivated to secure a win and improve their standings in the Super Eight stage of the tournament. Fans can look forward to an intense battle with both sides showcasing their best talents.

Afghanistan will face India in the 43rd game of the T20 World Cup, 2024. This exciting match is scheduled for Thursday at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, and will begin at 08:00 PM IST. Afghanistan and India are set to clash in what promises to be a compelling contest. Afghanistan has played 4 matches in the tournament. With three wins and one loss, Afghanistan qualified for the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 stage after finishing second in the Group C standings with six points from four games.

On the other hand, India topped Group A standings to book their place in the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 stage. India won three matches while the other game was abandoned.

The last encounter between these two teams was in the 3rd T20I of Afghanistan’s tour of India in 2024. In that match, Fareed Ahmad was the top fantasy performer for Afghanistan with 87 points, while Rohit Sharma led for India with an impressive 174 fantasy points.

Recent Performances:

Afghanistan: In their most recent match against the West Indies, Afghanistan was defeated by 104 runs. Gulbadin Naib was the standout fantasy player for Afghanistan, scoring 70 points.

India: India’s last match in this series saw them beat the USA by 7 wickets. Arshdeep Singh was the top fantasy player for India with 126 points.

Key Players to Watch:

Afghanistan:

Fazalhaq Farooqi

A left-arm fast-medium bowler who has taken 12 wickets in his last 5 matches, averaging 7.75. Despite a mixed record against India, his recent form makes him a key player for Afghanistan.

Ibrahim Zadran

A right-handed top-order batsman, Zadran has scored 161 runs in his last 5 matches, averaging 32.2 per match.

Rashid Khan

A leg break googly bowler who has taken 4 wickets in his last 3 matches, averaging 21.8. His experience and skill will be crucial for Afghanistan.

India:

Virat Kohli

A right-handed top-order batsman, Kohli has scored 85 runs in his last 5 matches, averaging 17 per match. Despite a dip in form, his potential to deliver in crucial matches makes him a key player for India.

Rohit Sharma

A right-handed top-order batsman who has scored 159 runs in his last 5 matches, averaging 39.75 runs per match. His consistent performance and leadership are vital for India’s success.

Jasprit Bumrah

A right-arm fast bowler who has taken 6 wickets in his last 4 matches, averaging 9.5. Bumrah’s effectiveness against Afghanistan, having taken a wicket in their recent encounters, adds to India’s bowling strength.

Conclusion

This match is expected to be a riveting contest as both teams are highly motivated to secure a win and improve their standings in the Super Eight stage of the tournament. Fans can look forward to an intense battle with both sides showcasing their best talents.