NASSER HUSSAIN: England will should be at their greatest to succeed in the World Cup ultimate… India take extra dangers with their new mindset however can they produce this fearless cricket in a knockout match?

England’s semi-final in opposition to India in Guyana represents their greatest problem but on this World Cup. India have received seven out of seven, and brushed Australia apart in St Lucia.

However England should remind themselves that they, and never India, are the crew who’ve spent the previous couple of years going exhausting from the beginning. They, not India, have that strategy of their bones.

Make no mistake: India are formidable. Rohit Sharma’s innings in opposition to the Australians was indicative of their new mindset of taking extra dangers. And in that respect they’ve realized from their semi-final defeat by England practically two years in the past in Adelaide, once they plodded alongside to a middling whole, then obtained blown away Jos Buttler and Alex Hales.

In Jasprit Bumrah, additionally they have the bowler of the event, each when it comes to the wickets he takes and the runs he concedes, whereas the left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has improved rather a lot, and is bowling barely faster via the air than he as soon as did.

However the query India should reply is: can they produce this fearless cricket in a knockout match? Even in opposition to Australia on Monday, defeat most likely wouldn’t have knocked them out, so the jeopardy wasn’t fairly there. And their failure to win a World Cup in both format since 2011 has been hanging over them for some time.

In Jasprit Bumrah (centre) India have the bowler of the event, each when it comes to the wickets he takes and the runs he concedes

Rohit Sharma’s innings in opposition to the Australians was indicative of India’s new riskier mindset

They’re a hell of a facet, nevertheless it’s solely truthful to level out that they haven’t translated their huge expertise into silverware.

England have had a much less easy path to the final 4, however they’ve spent nearly a decade now taking part in aggressive white-ball cricket, and in that point they’ve reached semi-finals and finals regularly.

Sure, the 50-over World Cup in India final yr didn’t go nicely, however they went into that competitors as double world champions, and so they’re solely two video games away right here from defending their T20 title. For me, Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott are doing simply advantageous.

I consider, too, that they’ve obtained higher as this event has gone on, regardless of dropping to 2 of the three Check sides they’ve confronted. And since they’ve gamers with loads of IPL expertise, they’re unlikely to be fazed if the Windfall Stadium in Guyana throws up a sluggish, low monitor. A decade in the past, we wouldn’t have been in a position to say that.

England thrashed India by 10 wickets on the final T20 World Cup in 2022 and can want one other robust show

Their problem might be to remain within the recreation for so long as potential, as a result of India have solely been examined as soon as up to now on this World Cup, by Pakistan. They might additionally need to adapt to situations, and determine that going for hell for leather-based isn’t the best way to play.

Don’t neglect that they’ve been honing their strategy for a very long time, whereas India have solely belatedly determined to hit out on the high.

If Rohit will get India off to a flyer, and Virat Kohli – who’s been wanting runs – rises to the large event, England might be in bother. However no matter India throw at them, Buttler’s crew received’t panic. And that alone provides England an opportunity of reaching one other World Cup ultimate – regardless that they’ll should be at their best possible to win.