Cricket

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.

South Africa's captain, Laura Wolvaardt, has expressed concerns about the spin-friendly conditions they anticipate for the upcoming one-off Test against India, beginning on Friday."We've been facing a lot of spin in the nets, preparing for a spin-friendly wicket," Wolvaardt said. "India has a significant home ground advantage, and winning a Test in India is extremely challenging."The South African team has been practicing extensively against spin bowlers in the nets, with opener Tazmin Brits facing only spin during her recent net session. Brits was observed going down the pitch and even playing a reverse-sweep.Wolvaardt emphasized the threat posed by India's spinners, particularly as the match progresses. "Their spinners will be our biggest challenge, especially as the match goes on," she said. "During yesterday's net session, the ball was staying low and turning quite a bit."South Africa recognizes the importance of adapting to the conditions and countering India's spin attack. "We've been facing a lot of spin in the nets the last few days," Wolvaardt said. "I think that'll probably be the biggest threat — their spinners."The South African team is aware of the challenges they face in India, but they remain determined to perform well. "I think this Test will be a huge challenge for us," Wolvaardt said. "Hopefully, we're able to adapt to the conditions well."

India's captain Rohit Sharma delivered a masterful performance, leading his team to a decisive 24-run victory over Australia in their final Super Eights match of the T20 World Cup. The triumph secured India's place in the semifinals, where they will face defending champions England.Rohit's innings was a symphony of power and finesse, as he amassed 92 runs off just 41 deliveries. He combined brute force with elegant strokeplay, dispatching the Australian bowlers to all corners of the ground. His knock propelled India to a formidable total of 205 for five.In response, Australia showed their fighting spirit, with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head leading the charge. Marsh struck 37 off 28 balls, while Head played a blinder, scoring 76 off 43 deliveries. However, the Indian bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav (2/24), Jasprit Bumrah (1/29), and Arshdeep Singh (3/37), kept the Australians at bay.Rohit's intent was clear from the outset. He emphasized the importance of putting pressure on the bowlers and scoring big totals. He stated, "I told you that 50s and 100s don't matter to me. Need to put the bowlers under pressure, and you need big scores for that."The Indian captain's approach paid dividends, as he targeted all areas of the field and kept the Australian bowlers guessing. His innings included several memorable shots, such as a down-on-one-knee six over deep mid-wicket off Pat Cummins.Despite Australia's valiant effort in the chase, they ultimately fell short, finishing on 181 for seven. India's victory was a testament to their dominance in the Super Eights, where they finished as group toppers with three wins in as many games.

Hardik Pandya's resurgence as an all-rounder for India in the T20 World Cup 2024 has silenced critics who questioned his place in the team. After a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign and fitness struggles, Pandya has rediscovered his form, delivering crucial performances for India.Ahead of India's match against Australia, Pandya hit back at critics who doubted his all-round abilities. "I've bowled for every team. It's become a topic of discussion," he said. "I need to work hard to fire on all cylinders. It gives me extra opportunity to contribute and lifts my confidence."In India's victory over Bangladesh, Pandya was named Player of the Match for his half-century and wicket. He acknowledged the team's unity and execution of plans. "We have played really good cricket," he said. "We can get better in some areas, but we are looking good."Pandya's return to form is a testament to his hard work and determination. Despite a serious injury, he remained focused on his recovery. "I wanted to come back, but God had other plans," he said. "Luck comes to people who work hard."India's final Super 8 match against Australia will be a crucial test for Pandya and the team. If they can maintain their momentum, they have a strong chance of reaching the semifinals. Pandya's all-round contributions will be vital to India's success.

India's approach to batting in the upcoming T20 World Cup semi-final against England has undergone a significant transformation since their conservative display in the 2022 semi-final. England had annihilated India by 10 wickets in that match, but India's head coach Matthew Mott believes his team has evolved since then."The way that they've approached it in the last couple of years is certainly taking the game on extremely hard in the power play," said Mott. "Rohit (Sharma) with the bat has led the way extremely well and shown leadership in that department, as has Jos Buttler for us."Mott highlighted India's remarkable consistency in reaching the knockout stages of ICC tournaments, despite their inability to win a trophy in over a decade. "What India has done incredibly well over the last few years is put themselves in semi-finals contention," he said. "But I think the consistency that they've shown over a length of time shows what a great group of players they are."England, on the other hand, have a point to prove despite being defending champions. They have not had the smoothest of runs in the competition, but Mott believes his team's best cricket is yet to come. "There's a general feeling that our best cricket is in front of us," he said. "I think we've been pretty good in patches, we've done some really good stuff over here, but we haven't put together that perfect game."The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams possessing formidable batting lineups and skilled bowlers. "It's going to come down to on the day," said Mott. "If you take those key moments at the right time, you get over the line, if you don't, you go home."

India's skipper, Rohit Sharma, has emphasized the importance of composure and simplicity for his team as they prepare for the high-stakes T20 World Cup semifinal against England. Acknowledging past struggles with the fear of failure, Rohit stressed the need to approach the match with a clear mind.The Indian team is eager to avenge their crushing 10-wicket defeat to England in the 2022 semifinal at the Adelaide Oval. Rohit believes that treating the match as a normal game and focusing on their strengths will be crucial."We want to be a smart cricket team," Rohit said. "We have done well with role clarity and rely on the players making good decisions on the field."Rohit praised the team's performance in the Super Eight stage, particularly his own blistering 92-run knock against Australia. He emphasized the importance of staying calm under pressure, a strategy that has served him well throughout his career.Regarding the team's bowling strategy, Rohit remained non-committal on whether they would field four spinners. Wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel have been impressive in the West Indies leg of the tournament, but Rohit indicated that the team would assess the conditions before making a decision.