(AP Photo)
Paul Collingwood, former England fielding coach, declared India as strong contenders to win the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final against England at Providence Stadium, Guyana.
India remains undefeated in the tournament, alongside South Africa, while England has shown improvement game by game despite not being in top form. The semi-final is expected to be an exciting clash between two aggressive teams.
During an interview on the Star Sports Press Room, Paul Collingwood expressed his belief that India holds the upper hand and are favorites to win the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final against England. He emphasized that England would require an exceptional effort to overcome India in the upcoming match.
“Honestly, I can’t see India losing this time. England will need something extraordinary to beat them,” Collingwood said.
Collingwood praised India’s team composition, highlighting his admiration for fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and his exceptional performance throughout the tournament.
“India, with their well-rounded squad, stands out particularly for Jasprit Bumrah’s current form. He’s fit, accurate, fast, and highly skilled. No team seems to have an answer for him. In a 120-ball game, having someone like Bumrah with his pace for 24 balls makes a huge difference. India has looked confident even in tough situations and on difficult pitches in America,” The former England allrounder mentioned.
“Their batters, like Rohit Sharma who played a magnificent innings against Australia, seem to be back in form,” he added.
Paul Collingwood believes England holds an advantage on a flat pitch. He emphasized the anticipation of an exciting contest between two aggressive teams.
“The match-up will be magnificent, with both sides adopting an ultra-aggressive approach. The surface in Guyana will be crucial. On a flat pitch, England has the upper hand with their ability to overpower teams. However, a slow, turning pitch would favour India,” he said.
In recent years, England has adopted an aggressive playing style, leading to victories in the 2019 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, India has also transitioned to a more aggressive brand of cricket, matching England’s approach.
Paul Collingwood- ‘India’s approach has changed’
When questioned about England’s tactics in the previous T20 World Cup semi-final, Collingwood suggested that India would be well-prepared for those strategies this time around. He praised India for showcasing an aggressive style of cricket throughout this tournament.
“The previous plan was to attack India aggressively from the start. However, a team like India can’t be surprised by that tactic. In 2022, when India batted first, we knew we could restrict them. Back then, India played conservatively, especially in the first 10 overs, and then tried to catch up later,” Collingwood said.
“But India’s approach has changed. They understand that this strategy won’t win World Cups. They need to take risks, be brave, and express themselves freely. This new mentality might be criticised if it fails, but to win World Cups, you need to be ahead of the curve and adapt to what other teams are doing globally,” the former England cricketer added.
India and England met in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup as well. England secured a convincing victory by 10 wickets against India in that encounter. Subsequently, they clinched the tournament by defeating Pakistan in the final.
