Ishaan Shahane and Debasis Sen in Guyana
The day is finally here with India taking on England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana for a spot in the ICC T20 World Cup final. Both teams have a settled look and will be looking to put their best foot forward on Thursday evening, India time 8pm. With good cricketing conditions all around, the wicket at the Providence Stadium promises to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. Both teams were seen practicing a day before this big encounter and the players seemed in good touch. They were gearing up for what promises to be a real thriller of a semi-final.
For the Indian team, most of the players were present, with Virat Kohli being one of the first batters to walk out to the wicket. Kohli was seen batting for 30 minutes, which included his usual throwdowns that have been a part of his routine since the start of the World Cup. Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja were the other two batters who stepped into the nets, facing plenty of throwdowns themselves. This strategic move by the management provides both these batters additional time in the middle, especially considering that they haven’t had the best season so far.
The Indian bowlers, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah were seen bowling at a separate net, honing their skills for the big game. Yuzvendra Chahal, however, was not seen bowling, which suggests that despite the wicket at Providence being spin-friendly, Chahal might not make the cut for this crucial match. This decision could be based on the team’s strategic planning and current form of the players.
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Indian captain Rohit Sharma attended the press conference on Wednesday and spoke in his usual composed manner. Rohit suggested that their approach to the semi-final would remain unchanged, with a focus on the basics. He stated, “Whenever you approach an international game, we try to play with a free mind. Not a lot has changed. It all depends on what the conditions have to offer. I have tried and kept things simple for myself as well as for the team,” he said.
When asked about the prospect of rain, the Indian skipper added, “I think we want to come here assuming it will be a 40-over game. We will be prepared for all scenarios. Ideally, for everyone, it will be nice to have a 40-over game.” His calm and straightforward responses reflect the team’s readiness and adaptability ahead of the crucial match against England.
Rohit also shared his thoughts on the semi-final and handling pressure, stating, “Everyone knows at the back of their mind it’s a semi-final. The entire group is in a good frame of mind. It’s important to carry on that momentum. We have been put under pressure at times but we came out of it. If you think too much, you will not be able to make the right decision.”
Adding a touch of humour to the press conference, Rohit responded to a question about his concerns regarding the England team: “A lot of England cricketers have played here. Weather is not under our control. The only thing I am worried about is we have a chartered flight. If the match goes on for a long time, we might miss it.” From the press conference, it seemed Rohit Sharma and the rest of the team were relaxed before the big game.
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