India has to win the World Cup, Day 27: To win the title, Boom-Boom Bumrah will have to shine.

Delhi: It was known from the beginning that Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling would be the biggest factor in India’s success in this T20 World Cup. Note how Suryakumar Yadav used him:

* In big matches against Pakistan and South Africa, two overs (numbers 2 and 4) in the first power play. Saved overs for the death overs against South Africa.

* Same pattern was there against Netherlands but no special emphasis was put in the fourth over.

* Used boom in the middle overs in the rest: vs Namibia, 3 overs in the middle and one death over, vs Zimbabwe, 3 overs and all in the middle, vs Caribbean, 1 powerplay, 1 middle and 2 death overs.

It is clear that as is the team, so is the use of boom. What will happen against England now? The team camp knows that Boom can prove to be the bowler that decides this semi-final. Even though Bumrah is currently number 7 in the ICC T20 bowling rankings, the England camp is keeping an eye on him.

There is also a big discussion about the pitch of Wankhede Stadium. The report from the ground is that the pitch has good bounce and carry. The boundaries are short and the outfield is fast. English players also know the conditions here very well. In such a situation, the role of fielding will be most important and a dropped catch can prove to be a match-loser for any team. The biggest focus in this statement is Team India because till now they have not proved to be a top team in terms of fielding.

A news before the semi-finals has proved this T20 World Cup to be one of the most successful ICC events till date. The number of people watching this event has crossed 50 crores and this is the largest count in any T20 World Cup.

Sanju Samson has ‘returned’, so is it now Abhishek Sharma’s turn to become the hero in the England semi-finals? The India-England semi-final in Mumbai is not a small match. The campaign that India has to win the World Cup started with the belief that Team India is excellent, but there is no favorite in the knockout match. England has its own identity and if this team, which avoided losing to Nepal, has reached the semi-finals, then the factor of their good and all-round cricket cannot be ignored. Therefore, to win against England, Team India will have to play its top cricket. New Zealand also proved the same thing in the semi-finals and defeated South Africa in a one-sided match which they will never forget.

Against West Indies, Sanju Samson, Tilak Verma and Shivam Dubey hid Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan’s lack of runs at the top. This is a team sport and every day some new ‘hero’ will emerge. This statement on Team India has proved absolutely correct in this T20 World Cup. Everyone did not play well together but as a team we are in the semi-finals. When there is such a good team in front, then we will have to give our all in that semi-final.

Abhishek is left. Apart from the Zimbabwe match, he has not done anything special till now. Such a phase can come in any player’s career, so it is not surprising. Abhishek just has to believe in himself. How his focus was wavering was visible towards the end of West Indies’ innings. As soon as the ball was coming towards Abhishek from the shot, he was confused whether to try to take the catch or stay there and save the runs? The delay in this confusion proved costly and he caught the ball with both hands but left it. Lost the catch due to lack of decision.

Therefore, Abhishek should believe in himself while batting and play as he is used to. Abhishek has a great opportunity against England and this is where he scored 100 against them last year.
So who will play New Zealand in the final in Ahmedabad, India or England?

Fun Fact:

* Suryakumar Yadav is the 7th captain of India in ICC knockout matches. Before him: MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, M Azharuddin and Virat Kohli.

* Mumbai will now become the city in India to host the most number of ICC knockout matches with 6 such matches. Kolkata (5) is at second place.

* Rachin Ravindra has taken more wickets than Bumrah, Arshdeep, Archer, Usman Tariq and Henry in this T20 World Cup.

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