Cricket

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma continued his exceptional form in the T20 World Cup, leading his team with another scintillating knock against England in the semi-final in Guyana. Having played a match-winning innings of 92 off just 41 balls against Australia, Rohit once again rose to the occasion after losing Virat Kohli early. He scored a crucial 57 off 39 balls, keeping India on track for a solid total.Rohit's innings was a display of power-hitting, including 6 fours and 2 sixes. With his impressive performance, he entered the record books of the T20 World Cup. He became the second batsman, after the iconic West Indian player Chris Gayle, to reach the landmark of 50 sixes in the tournament.The moment that propelled Rohit to this feat was a well-executed sweep shot over the fine leg boundary, which also brought up his half-century. Rohit also created history by becoming the first Indian captain to score a fifty in the knockout match of the T20 World Cup.Earlier, England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and elected to field in the rain-delayed semi-final. The match witnessed another rain interruption when India were 65/2 in 8 overs. Both teams were unchanged from their concluding Super Eights games.Rohit's innings was crucial in setting up a solid platform for India. He shared a 62-run partnership with KL Rahul, who scored 27 off 25 balls. After Rohit's dismissal, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya played valuable cameos to help India reach a competitive total of 168/6.In response, England's chase was hampered by the rain interruptions. They were set a revised target of 130 runs in 12 overs. Despite a valiant effort from Jos Buttler, who scored 28 off 14 balls, England fell short by 10 runs.Rohit Sharma's brilliant knock and leadership played a pivotal role in India's victory. He has been in exceptional form throughout the tournament and has led his team from the front. India will now face Pakistan in the final on Sunday, where they will aim to defend their title.

Virat Kohli's disappointing run in the T20 World Cup continued in the semi-final against England, as the star batter was dismissed for a mere 9 runs. This marked yet another single-digit dismissal for Kohli in the tournament, leaving fans and experts alike questioning his form.Kohli's struggles in the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup stand in stark contrast to his impressive record in the group stages. In previous editions of the tournament, Kohli has consistently delivered match-winning performances in the semi-finals. However, in this year's edition, he has failed to replicate his past heroics.In 2014, Kohli played a pivotal role in India's victory over South Africa, scoring an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls. Two years later, he once again showcased his brilliance with an explosive 89 not out off 47 balls against the West Indies, although India ultimately fell short in that match.In the 2022 semi-final against England, Kohli managed only 50 runs off 40 balls, a valiant effort but not enough to secure the win. Despite these setbacks, Kohli's contributions in these critical matches have left an indelible mark on T20 World Cup history.Kohli's dismissal against England came in the third over of India's innings. He pulled Reece Topley for six but two balls later, the left-arm paceman bowled him as he knocked over the leg stump. Kohli has now scored just 75 runs in seven innings this tournament at an average of 10.71.The Indian team will be hoping that Kohli can rediscover his form in the upcoming matches. With the T20 World Cup final just around the corner, India will need their star batter to step up and deliver a match-winning performance.

India's knowledge of their T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final venue in Guyana has sparked controversy, with former players and pundits questioning the fairness of the arrangement.India captain Rohit Sharma downplayed the advantage, but Sanjay Manjrekar believes it influenced India's team selection, particularly their inclusion of four spinners. Nick Knight echoed this sentiment, stating that it "didn't seem right or fair."Michael Vaughan went further, accusing the ICC of favoring India due to their financial contributions. He criticized the scheduling, which allowed India to play all their matches in the morning for prime-time viewing in India.Knight also questioned the ICC's decision to have different rules for the semi-finals, with Afghanistan and South Africa having a reserve day while India and England did not. He suggested condensing the group stages and moving the final to Sunday to avoid such situations.Manjrekar urged the ICC to prioritize a level-playing field over commercial gains. He argued that the focus should be on creating a high-quality product rather than catering solely to market demands.The controversy highlights the tension between the ICC's desire to maximize revenue and the need to ensure fairness and integrity in the sport. It remains to be seen how the ICC will address these concerns in future tournaments.

India and South Africa are set to face off in a highly anticipated Test match in Chennai, marking the return of women's cricket to the city after a long hiatus. Both teams enter the contest with contrasting fortunes and preparations.India, fresh off impressive Test victories against England and Australia, will be confident of extending their dominance. Their spinners, particularly Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana, will be key in the spin-friendly conditions expected at the Chepauk surface. India's batting lineup also boasts depth, with Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues in fine form.South Africa, on the other hand, face an uphill battle. They suffered an innings defeat against Australia in their only Test of the year and have had limited preparation with the red ball. Captain Laura Wolvaardt, a prolific batter, will be crucial for their hopes. However, their bowling attack lacks experience in Test cricket, with Nonkululeko Mlaba being their only left-arm spin option.Despite South Africa's challenges, India will not take them lightly. The Proteas have a history of upsetting the odds, and their determination to prove themselves on the international stage should not be underestimated.The match will be a test of both teams' adaptability and resilience. India will aim to capitalize on their home advantage and spin-friendly conditions, while South Africa will need to find ways to counter India's formidable bowling attack and post competitive totals.

India's skipper Harmanpreet Kaur emphasizes the significance of the ongoing series against South Africa in preparing for the Women's ODI World Cup next year. The series provides an opportunity for the team to adapt to different home venues and capitalize on familiar conditions.Harmanpreet highlights the importance of gaining experience on various home wickets, as India has limited experience playing at home. She believes this series will boost their confidence and provide valuable insights into the behavior of the wickets and the combinations that can be used for the World Cup.Despite the overcast weather and scattered rain forecast in Chennai, Harmanpreet remains optimistic about the Chepauk track. She notes that it is not entirely different from the wickets in Mumbai, where they played their previous two Tests. The team has been practicing for the last three days, which Harmanpreet believes will be beneficial during the match.Harmanpreet expresses confidence in the team's bowling department, which includes Arundhati Reddy, Smriti Mandhana, and herself. She acknowledges Reddy's versatility and her ability to contribute with the bat as well. Harmanpreet also indicates that she and Mandhana are willing to bowl if necessary.The Indian captain credits head coach Amol Muzumdar for helping her adapt to the Test format, despite her limited experience. She praises the BCCI for its efforts in promoting women's cricket, including the return of red-ball cricket to the domestic calendar.Harmanpreet expresses gratitude for the opportunity to play Test cricket and hopes for a positive result in the upcoming match against South Africa. She believes the team is well-prepared and eager to deliver.

England's former captain, Paul Collingwood, predicts that the team will field four spinners against India in the second semifinal of the T20 World Cup. He believes that Adil Rashid, a "golden nugget" for England, will pose a significant challenge to Indian batters on the spin-friendly pitch at Providence Stadium.Collingwood highlights Rashid's exceptional deception and ability to turn the ball both ways, making him a formidable force in T20 cricket. He acknowledges that Indian batsmen are generally adept at playing spin, but he believes that Rashid's current form could prove decisive.Collingwood also suggests that England may consider fielding Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, and Will Jacks as additional spin options. He emphasizes the importance of Rashid's confidence and the spectacle of witnessing a top-form leg spinner facing some of the world's best batters.On the other hand, former Australian spinner Brad Hogg believes that India will not include Yuzvendra Chahal in their playing XI, opting instead for Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. He cites the dry wicket conditions and India's depth in spin as reasons for this decision.Hogg praises Kuldeep and Axar for their effectiveness against left-handers and suggests that Jadeja would be a better choice than Chahal if the pitch does not favor spin. He emphasizes Jadeja's all-round abilities and his ability to perform well in various conditions.

The highly anticipated second semi-final of the T20 World Cup between India and England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana is under threat due to inclement weather. The capital of Guyana, Georgetown, has experienced heavy rainfall in recent days, raising concerns about the match's viability.The International Cricket Council (ICC) has not allocated a reserve day for the high-stakes clash, which has drawn criticism from fans. The decision was made to ensure that players have adequate rest before the final in Barbados, which is scheduled just a day after the semi-final."For performance reasons, to ensure teams do not have to 'play-travel-play' on consecutive days, the decision was taken to allocate the additional time for the second semi-final immediately post the game," an ICC spokesperson explained.Despite the lack of a reserve day, the ICC has allotted an additional 250 minutes to complete the match in case of rain interruptions. If the match is reduced to a 10-overs-a-side affair, the cut-off time for a result is 1.44 AM IST (4:14 AM local time).India will be eager to avenge their 10-wicket defeat to England in the semi-final of the 2022 edition. The team has been in impressive form throughout the tournament, winning all their matches except for the abandoned fixture against Canada.England, on the other hand, has had a mixed campaign, with both impressive victories and unexpected losses. They have fought hard to reach the semi-finals and will be determined to upset India.The weather forecast remains uncertain, and fans will be anxiously monitoring the situation in the lead-up to the match. If rain does intervene, it could have a significant impact on the outcome of the tournament.

Piyush Chawla, the veteran Indian leg-spinner, believes left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is in prime form and ready to make a substantial impact for the Rohit Sharma-led side in their 2024 Men's T20 World Cup semifinal clash against England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday night.After not featuring in Group A matches due to fast-bowling friendly conditions in New York, Kuldeep has yielded fruitful returns to be India's controller of proceedings in the middle overs, picking seven wickets at an average of 10.71, and economy rate of just 6.25 in India's Super Eights games in the Caribbean.With the venue in Guyana expected to aid spinners, Kuldeep is expected to bring his adaptability to the fore and lead India's charge against England through his subtle changes in pace, variations and using the crease well to bamboozle the batters."Kuldeep Yadav's resurgence has been one of the greatest comebacks in the history of Indian cricket. His absence in the 2022 semi-final was a significant miss for India, but this time, he's in prime form and ready to make a substantial impact. Kuldeep's unorthodox left-arm wrist spin and the ability to extract turn and bounce, coupled with his deceptive variations, can be a game-changer in the middle overs," said Chawla, an expert in 'Caught and Bold' show on Disney Hotstar, to IANS.Chawla also noted that Kuldeep has fared well against England on various occasions at the international level. He had also picked a six-fer against England in the Nottingham ODI in 2018, as well as five-fer in the Manchester T20I in the same tour. More recently, he took a five-fer in the final Test at Dharamshala, as India won the series 4-1.Kuldeep also has a good record against England skipper Jos Buttler, who he has dismissed three times in T20s. More recently, in IPL 2024, Kuldeep had trapped Buttler lbw on reverse-sweep during the Delhi Capitals-Rajasthan Royals game at Jaipur in March.In the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup game at Lucknow, the left-arm wrist spinner produced a magic moment when he pitched one outside the off-stump with a flatter trajectory and got the ball to turn sharply by nearly a mile to castle captain Jos Buttler through the gate with precision."He also has a good record playing against England. In the upcoming semi-final, Kuldeep will be crucial in disrupting England's aggressive batting mantra. He will be India's trump card against England's explosive batting order. Given his current form and confidence, Kuldeep Yadav is poised to be a significant threat, making the middle overs a challenging period for England batsmen," added Chawla, a member of India's 2011 ODI World Cup winning team.From England's bowling perspective, leg-spinner Adil Rashid shapes up as a crucial figure in controlling the middle overs. In the 2022 Men's T20 World Cup semi-final meet between England and India at Adelaide, Rashid picked 1-20 in his four overs, including taking out an in-form Suryakumar Yadav, as Buttler & Co won by ten wickets.Chawla reckons Rashid, who has picked nine wickets in the ongoing tournament with his immaculate control on pace and variations, will be an important bowler for England to control the middle overs and put the pressure on India in the highly-anticipated semi-final clash."Adil Rashid has been a crucial component for England in the middle overs. Rashid's variations, including his googly and subtle changes in pace, makes him a formidable threat on the West Indian pitches. In the upcoming semi-final against India, Rashid's role will be pivotal for England to win.""If he can maintain his discipline and keep the pressure on, he could very well be the key for England putting pressure on Indian batsmen. His knack for breaking partnerships is especially valuable in the middle overs, a phase where the game often shifts decisively. England will be counting on Rashid to deliver a spell that not only controls the run flow but also provides breakthroughs at crucial moments," he concluded.

Ahead of the highly anticipated T20 World Cup semi-final clash between India and England, Indian captain Rohit Sharma addressed the media in a pre-match press conference. While the focus should have been on the exciting match-up between the two cricketing giants, the weather and pitch conditions have dominated the headlines.In the previous edition of the T20 World Cup, England outplayed India in the semi-finals, with Jos Buttler and Alex Hales leading the charge. However, the pitch in Guyana is expected to favor spinners, a skill that India has traditionally been known to handle better.Despite this perceived advantage, Rohit Sharma downplayed any notion of India having an upper hand. He emphasized that both teams have played in various conditions and that the key to victory lies in playing good cricket.The weather has been a major concern in Georgetown, with rain interrupting play in recent days. The ICC has not allocated a reserve day for the semi-final, meaning that a washout would result in India advancing to the final while England would be eliminated.This has led to accusations from former England players that the ICC is favoring India. However, Rohit Sharma dismissed these claims, stating that the Indian team is focused on winning the match rather than worrying about the weather."We don't know what's going to happen. The only thing I'm worried is if the game goes on until pretty late, we have a charter flight. We might miss that flight," Rohit said. "But that's OK. It's the ICC' and the Cricket West Indies' headache to get us to the next venue."With two strong teams set to face off, the semi-final promises to be a thrilling encounter. Despite the weather concerns, both India and England will be determined to put on a memorable performance and secure a place in the final.