Same old story for India. They lose yet another knockout match in the ICC tournaments. England makes a one-sided match at the Adelaide Oval to make a mockery of the Indian team. In fact, at no point in the second inning, it looked like India can win this match. So, was England just a better team or India was below par in the knockouts again? We try to find out 5 major reasons why India could not get better off the England team in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2022.

Powerplay and the opening partnership

KL Rahul walks off after getting out for 5 in the semi-final against England | Sportz Point — KL Rahul walks off after getting out for 5 in the semi-final against England. Image: Getty

Although KL Rahul looked to be getting in touch before the semi-final, everyone knew he was not at his best. With Rohit Sharma also not having a best of the time, it made it tougher for India to win the powerplay.

India's opening pair of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma only managed to score 88 runs in the whole T20 World Cup together with a run rate of 4.98 runs per over. It was Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav who saved India throughout the world cup except for today.

India, today, only managed to score 38 runs in the powerplay with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the crease as KL Rahul was sent into the dressing room early in the inning. Whereas, England scored 63 runs in the powerplay to make sure they are not making a fuss of the chase.

Read Also: How quick learner Arshdeep Singh overtook contemporaries like Shivam Mavi, Nagarkoti and Ishan Porel of the 2018 batch?

Read Also: Strike rate, knockouts, T20Is and Kane Willamson: A question needs to be answered

Adil Rashid, Rishabh Pant and the ex-factor | T20 World Cup

Same old story, India losses yet another knockout match | Reasons behind India's loss | Sportz Point — Adil Rashid celebrates the wicket of Surya Kumar Yadav in the semi-final against India

Yes, it is tough to get into the top four of India's batting lineup. But, with Rishabh Pant in the team, it would have been great to see him going with the spin against Rashid Khan. The shorter square boundaries could have come in handy as well. The Indian team might have missed a trick here while Jos Buttler used Rashid against right-handers to get the big fish like Surya Kumar Yadav in a high-voltage match.

Rashid finished with a bowling figure of 4-20-1, which is quite remarkable for a spinner in the T20 format.

Hardik saved but India missed a 360 player in the end

Hardik Pandya hits a six in his 33-ball 62 in the semi-final against England in the T20 World Cup | Sportz Point — Hardik Pandya hits a six in his 33-ball 62 in the semi final against England. Image- Getty

Pandya did well to take India to 168 but surely the Indian team missed a 360 player in the end. Kohli could not finish his job at the end and as Indian batters lacked the 360-game, England could target the yorkers pretty well. Well, a Dinesh Karthik could have come in handy with the scoops and paddles. Although Karthik did not look at his best in the limited opportunity he got in the World Cup.

Read Also: Past winners of the T20 World Cup

Read Also: Player of the series winners in T20 World Cup History

Axar or Chahal?

That was a selection call that Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid had to take before the game. Unfortunately, it did not go well for both of them. With Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone doing well with their leggies, it would have been interesting to see what Chahal could have done with the long straight boundaries. In fact, Yuzvendra Chahal will board the plane to India without bowling a single ball in the T20 World Cup. HARSH!

No Swing, No magic

T20 World Cup 2022 | Jos Buttler hits one for the boundary in the opening over against Bhubneshwar Kumar. | Sportz Point — Jos Buttler hits one for the boundary in the opening over against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Image: Getty

Indian bowlers did well when it swung for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh in the opening overs. Though a few of the early balls from Bhuvneshwar Kumar seemed to shape a bit, he lacked control against "Joss da Boss". Early boundaries and balls on both sides of the wicket meant Indian bowlers looked nervous and could not handle the pressure of the semi-final of a World Cup.

Once the powerplay was gone, a red-hot Alex Hales did not look like getting out and all seemed easy for the England captain as well. A few shots in the no man's land might have given India a bit of hope, but India lacked a genuine wicket-taker in the middle overs. Balls in straighter lines for a T20 specialist like Hales and Buttler looked like bread and butter served on a platter.

T20 World Cup | Final words

Many announcements might come after team India returns to India. BCCI might take some decisions on how this team with megastars can win ICC Trophies. Even after playing high voltage games in IPL, somehow team India players are not able to turn up in the biggest stage of cricket.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SportzPoint.com (@sportzpoint)

Latest Stories

Subscribe Newsletter