Cricket

India's quest for a T20 World Cup title remains alive after a dominant 68-run victory over defending champions England in the semi-final. On a challenging pitch in Providence, Guyana, India's disciplined bowling attack restricted England to a paltry 103, while their batters had earlier posted a competitive 171 for 7.Rohit Sharma led the Indian charge with a blistering 57 off 39 deliveries, setting the tone for an aggressive approach. Despite the slow and low conditions, India's batters found ways to score boundaries, with Suryakumar Yadav contributing 47.England's bowlers struggled to contain India's attacking intent, with Chris Jordan conceding 37 runs in his four overs. The introduction of Adil Rashid provided some respite, but India's batters continued to move around the crease and force the issue.After the second rain break, Rashid regained control by bowling a tighter line and dismissing Rohit. However, India's spin-bowling all-rounders, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, proved equally effective, taking three wickets each.In the chase, England's batters were unable to cope with India's spin-heavy attack. Liam Livingstone, bowling part-time, conceded just 24 runs in four overs, while Axar and Kuldeep shared six wickets between them.India's victory sets up a tantalizing final against South Africa, who defeated Australia in the other semi-final. The match will be a rematch of the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final, which South Africa won by five wickets.

Rohit Sharma Joins Elite Group of Indian Captains with 5,000 Runs Across FormatsIndian skipper Rohit Sharma has etched his name into the annals of Indian cricket history by becoming only the fifth Indian captain to surpass 5,000 runs across all formats of the game. This significant milestone was achieved during the semi-final match against England in the ongoing T20 World Cup at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.Rohit's impressive batting performance, which earned him the nickname 'Hitman,' was on full display as he dominated England's bowling attack during the powerplay. With his influential 57-run innings, Rohit became only the fifth Indian captain to surpass 5,000 runs across all formats of the game.As he walked back to the pavilion, Rohit's total run tally as the Indian skipper stood at 5,033 runs, cementing his place among the greats. However, he still has a long way to go to catch up with Virat Kohli, who leads the chart with an impressive 12,883 runs as the Indian captain in all three formats.Following Kohli is MS Dhoni, renowned for his exceptional leadership and captaincy skills, with 11,207 runs to his name as the Indian skipper across all formats. Mohammad Azharuddin and Sourav Ganguly also feature on this prestigious list, having scored 8,095 and 7,643 runs, respectively, during their tenures as Indian captains.Rohit's achievement is a testament to his consistent performance and leadership abilities. As the Indian team prepares for the final of the T20 World Cup, Rohit will be looking to add to his tally and lead his team to victory.

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.

The T20 World Cup 2024 has been plagued by logistical challenges, and the final between South Africa and the West Indies is no exception. A landing failure of a small private aircraft at the Grantley Adams airport in Barbados has stranded the South African team, their families, commentators, match officials, and ICC officials at the Trinidad airport.The Barbados airport was closed for inspections by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Barbados Police Service after the incident. Moments before the South African contingent was set to take off from Trinidad, the pilots received information about the runway closure in Bridgetown."It appeared that the landing gear of the private aircraft did not deploy, but it is currently on the runway at GAIA [Grantley Adams International Airport] safely," said Sharleen Brown, Corporate Communication Specialist with GAIA. She confirmed that all three individuals on board - two passengers and a pilot - were unharmed.Passengers on the flight from Trinidad to Barbados were told the tentative rescheduled time was 4.30pm, which would amount to nearly six hours of delay. All the boarded passengers had to return to the terminal, adding to the many delays endured by teams at the tournament.Sri Lanka had to spend a whole night at the airport when traveling from Florida to New York. Afghanistan, who finished their last Super Eight match in the wee hours of Tuesday, also had their flight delayed before playing their first T20 World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.This is the first time South Africa has made a final of a men's World Cup. The final will be played on Saturday morning, as opposed to the usual tradition of playing on Sundays. That change meant the second semi-final, currently delayed because of inclement weather in Guyana, could not have a reserve day.Despite giving the two semi-finals the same amount of extra time to get a game in, the ICC has used different playing conditions if the matches needed to be shortened.

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.

The 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal loss to England proved to be a pivotal moment for Team India, according to former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar. The humiliating 10-wicket defeat served as a "wake-up call" that has transformed the team into a formidable force.In the Adelaide encounter, India's star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed to deliver, contributing to the team's unexpected exit. Rohit managed a 27-ball 27, while Kohli scored a 40-ball 50 as India posted a modest 168 for 6. England chased down the target with ease in just 16 overs.Manjrekar believes that neither Rohit nor Kohli have acknowledged the loss as a turning point, but it has undoubtedly been a catalyst for the team's resurgence in T20 cricket. "India is completely changed as a T20 side. That (2022 T20 WC semis loss) was a wake-up call for India. They may not admit it. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have never confessed that they helped India lose the semifinals, but this new India is a completely different India," Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.He added that England's current form, which is slightly weaker than in previous years, further strengthens India's chances.However, Kohli's recent struggles have raised concerns ahead of the semifinal clash against England. The former Indian captain has scored just 1, 4, 0, 24, 37, and 0 in six matches. Manjrekar acknowledges Kohli's form as a worry but expects him to rise to the occasion."Virat Kohli is a little bit of a worry because he hasn't got the runs, but he stayed committed to this approach of taking risks and doesn't worry about getting out. Whether he'll continue to do that in the semifinal, because this is a guy who has taken up the responsibility on the big stage, he feels that he's the guy who's got to do it. Plus he's short of runs. The thing to look for is if he's hit a four or a six and if he picks a single, then you know that he's batting a little differently," Manjrekar said.Team India is determined to break its decade-long drought of major titles and prove its mettle in knockout matches. Rohit's team enters Thursday's semifinal in Guyana on a six-match winning streak and is eager to emulate the success of the 2007 side that won the inaugural T20 World Cup.

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.