Rohit Sharma-led Team India heaved a sigh of relief as they advanced to the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 with a convincing 68-run win over the defending champions England in the semifinal at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
After posting a total of 171/7, Indian bowlers rattled England's batting line-up as they bundled them out for 103 in 16.4 overs. The Three Lions' batting began to collapse after skipper Jos Buttler's dismissal.
Kuldeep Yadav led India's bowling attack as he registered figures 3/19 with an economy rate of 4.80 in four overs, while Axar Patel too picked three wickets while conceding 23 runs with an 5.80 in his full quota of four overs. Apart from Kuldeep and Axar, Team India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah too contributed to India's bowling by picking two wickets.
After India sealed their berth for the title clash against South Africa, skipper Rohit Sharma, who scored a brilliant 57 off 39 balls in the semifinal against South Africa, became emotional over the win.
In a video that went viral on social media, Rohit was seen sitting outside the dressing room when Virat Kohli spotted him crying. Kohli made him laugh as Rohit was wiping his tears with his shirt.
The Men in Blue displayed sheer dominance in lead up to the final in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. India have remained unbeaten in the tournament thus far. With the semifinal win over England, India extended their unbeaten to seven matches.
In the first round, Team India won three consecutive matches against India, Ireland and the USA in Group A to seal their Super 8 berth. India hopes to make it 4 out of 4 but couldn't happen as their final group stage fixture against Canada was washed out due to rain in Florida.
In the Super 8 stage, Rohit Sharma-led side topped Group 1 with consecutive wins against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Australia and qualified for the semifinal against England.
'We worked really hard as a unit': Rohit Sharma
India skipper Rohit Sharma lauded his team for working hard as a unit to help the team to qualify for the final. He asserted that his players have adapted well to the conditions in the Caribbean. Rohit also lauded gun spinners - Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel for being calm under pressure and executing as per the conditions.
"Very satisfying to win this game. We worked really hard as a unit. To win this game like that was a great effort from everybody. We adapted to the conditions really well. The conditions were a little challenging, we had to adapt and that's been the success story for us so far till this game." Rohit Sharma at the post-match presentation.
"We have adapted to the conditions really well, played the conditions really well. The bowlers and the batters, if they play according to the conditions, things falls in place and that's exactly what happened for us today. Very pleasing to see how we came through this game.
"They (Axar and Kuldeep) are gun spinners. When the conditions like that are in front of them, It's difficult to play some shots. The pressure is on them as well to come and execute those balls but they were calm and knew what to bowl. " he added.
India will look to end their 11-year ICC title drought when they take on South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 Final at the Kenningston Oval in Barbados' Bridgetown on Saturday, June 29.
