(AFP Photo)
As the highly anticipated second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, where India faces defending champions England in Guyana, English head coach Matthew Mott acknowledges that this Indian team is not the same one they defeated in the 2022 semi-finals.
Ahead of the semi-final clash, Mott has observed a noticeable shift in the current Indian team, noting a newfound aggression in their style of play.
“Probably the only thing that we’ve discussed is that we feel that they’re a very different team to that semi-final. The way that they’ve approached it in the last couple of years is certainly taking the game on extremely hard in the power play,” said Mott on the eve of the match.
Mott sees Rohit Sharma as pivotal to the Indian team, much like Jos Buttler is for England. He also noted that navigating the unfamiliar ground presents a significant challenge for his squad. Nevertheless, Mott expressed confidence that his team is well-prepared to tackle any obstacles they encounter.
“Rohit (Sharma) with the bat has led the way extremely well and shown leadership in that department, as has Jos Buttler for us. But I think it presents a really unique challenge for us. It’s a venue we don’t know well.
“We’ve been armed with a lot of information and we think we’ve got a squad to cover it, but there’s a little bit of unknown about what we’re going to get,” he said.
The England head coach also commended the Indian team for consistently being among the top sides in various competitions, despite not clinching the title. He emphasized that winning crucial matches hinges on gaining small advantages in your favor.
“What India has done incredibly well over the last few years is put themselves in semi-finals contention and the flip side to that is when you don’t win people look at that as a negative. But I think the consistency that they’ve shown over a length of time shows what a great group of players they are,” he commented.
“And like anyone, when you get to the semi-final stage, every team, and the four teams out here, all think they’re in with a chance to win it. And there are small margins. So, if you take those key moments at the right time, you get over the line, if you don’t, you go home.
