Semifinals, the penultimate hurdle in sport, can be the most taxing of endeavours. The need to be in the ‘here’ and ‘now’, and not to think about the impending final, is the first challenge.
Second is the fear that all the hard work leading up to this moment could be undone against a strong rival or an unfancied opposition.
India has had a love-hate equation with the last-four stage, especially in ICC events organised at home. In the 50-over World Cups, be it 1987 or 1996, the host fell in the semifinals.
A similar fate awaited in the 2016 ICC World Twenty20.
However, in the 2011 regular World Cup, M.S. Dhoni’s men won the trophy. But in 2023, the summit clash against Australia proved fatal. Now, Suryakumar Yadav’s men get another chance to seize ICC silverware in their backyard.
On Thursday, the semifinal bogey was dealt with, albeit nervously, against England in the ICC T20 World Cup at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. In a battle of runs, there were 34 sixes; India wrested a seven-run triumph. Overall, 499 runs were scored, and within this big picture, India kept finding heroes.
If in setting the target, Sanju Samson (89) was the force-multiplier, Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma also played a vital hand. When it was India’s turn to defend, there was always the masterly skill of constriction and extraction that Jasprit Bumrah excels in.
The spearhead’s one for 33 was remarkable, and when he conceded just six in the 18th over, Bumrah flipped scoreboard pressure back onto the visitors despite Jacob Bethell’s (105) stunning innings. Hardik Pandya then yielded nine in the 19th over and claimed a wicket. And when Dube stepped in for the last over, Harry Brook’s men needed 30, which proved steep.
This will be a contest for which the Indians would be remembered for their fielding. Having shelled catches in earlier outings, the Men in Blue found a redemptive arc. Even as Varun Chakaravarthy leaked 64 runs and extras featured 10 wides, amends were made on the turf.
Axar Patel took a skier, caught another one diving full length, and then pouched one metres before the rope and relayed it to Dube. In the last over, Hardik’s bullseye throw left Bethell stranded.
India has found its groove, and now there is New Zealand to contend with on Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
