India’s T20 World Cup encounter is their first real test. They had an undefeated record through the group and Super Eight rounds. On Thursday morning, they play the reigning champions, England, at the Guyana National Stadium in the second semi-final, with the past irrelevant.

A year and a half ago, at this identical point, Jos Buttler and his team had crushed a billion hearts with a masterful display against Rohit Sharma’s team. Opening pair Buttler and Alex Hales amassed 170 in only 16 overs, making India’s 168 for six seem far short of their potential and condemning the country to one of their worst losses ever.

Despite England playing them side by side in Twenty20 Internationals, India has improved much since that crushing. India leads the World Cup series 2-2 and has a 12-11 edge in 20-over faceoffs. On what is predicted to be a spin-friendly track, a new chapter in this fierce rivalry will begin.

While Yuzvendra Chahal is waiting in the wings for India, which is stacked with players like Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, England has the depth of experience in Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.

Buttler also has access to Liam Livingstone, the adaptable “dual” spinner who can leg-spin to right-handers just as well as off-spin them. In the Super Eights, India easily overcame spin threats from Afghanistan and Bangladesh on route to totals of 181 and 196, respectively.

Although they will be aware of the danger posed by English spin, they will not be overcome by it. Several players, including the captain, raised their hands in support of the Indians during Monday’s 24-run victory against Australia. Except for Virat Kohli, every player in the batting order has made a reliable and significant contribution.

Arshdeep Singh is the second-highest wicket-taker in the competition, Jasprit Bumrah has been outstanding with the ball, and Kuldeep has provided a cutting edge in the middle overs.

In contrast, England has relied a lot on its openers, Buttler and Phil Salt, who both had fantastic IPL-17 seasons with the Kolkata Knight Riders. As Harry Brook looms large in the middle order alongside Livingston and Moeen, and Jonny Bairstow has recovered from a lackluster first five months of 2024, it is critical for India that Arshdeep maintains his Powerplay form—he has taken five wickets in that phase—and that Bumrah and Kuldeep continue to combine economy and penetration.

On match morning, Providence has a 70% probability of rain, a forecast that everyone involved will be crossing their fingers doesn’t come true. The second semifinal does not have a reserve day, and in order to squeeze out a victory, play may be prolonged by four and a half hours. If there is an abandonment, India advances to the June 29 final by virtue of winning their Super Eight group. This is a path that will only satisfy the most ardent Indian supporter.

Former all-rounder Paul Collingwood (above) believes that England is unlikely to lose the revenge match against the reigning champions and that they would need to put on an incredible display to defeat an in-form India in the semi-final. On Thursday, India and England will play a rematch of their 2022 final four stage encounter in Adelaide, which Jos Buttler’s team won by a margin of 10 wickets. To be honest, I don’t think India will lose this time. To defeat them, England will need exceptional measures. India played cautiously back then, particularly in the opening ten overs. However, India now takes a different tack, Collingwood said Star Sports.

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Quantity of T20Is England and India have competed against one another. India has won 12 games, compared to England’s 11 victories.

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Not at all times In the T20 World Cup, India and England have met one another. Each squad has achieved two victories.