In a thrilling semi-final clash at the Providence Stadium, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma led his team to a commanding victory over England, securing his place as the most successful captain in T20I history. India’s win has set up an eagerly anticipated final against South Africa at Kensington Stadium, Barbados, on June 29.
Sharma’s remarkable leadership and stellar form have been pivotal throughout the tournament. Recently, he overtook Babar Azam to become the top run-scorer in T20Is. With India’s triumph over Jos Buttler’s England, the 37-year-old recorded his 49th win in 61 matches, surpassing Azam’s previous record of 48 wins in 85 matches.
Rohit Sharma: 49 wins in 61 matches
Babar Azam: 48 wins in 85 matches
Aaron Finch: 40 wins in 76 matches
Kane Williamson: 39 wins in 75 matches
MS Dhoni: 41 wins in 72 matches
Sharma is also the third-highest run-scorer of this World Cup, with 248 runs from seven innings, trailing only Australia’s Travis Head (255 runs) and Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz (281 runs).
Chasing a target of 172, England started well, scoring 26 runs without loss in the first three overs. However, Axar Patel’s breakthrough in the fourth over, dismissing Jos Buttler, turned the tide in India’s favor. Patel, along with Kuldeep Yadav, wreaked havoc on England’s batting lineup, taking three wickets each. Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with two wickets, helping to bowl England out for a mere 103 runs in 16.4 overs.
Earlier, India’s innings had a rocky start with Virat Kohli falling early to Reece Topley for just nine runs. The innings gained momentum through a 73-run partnership between Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma. Sharma showcased his batting prowess with a half-century before being bowled by Adil Rashid for 57. Yadav continued the assault but narrowly missed his fifty, dismissed by Jofra Archer for 47.
Despite losing wickets in quick succession towards the end, contributions from Hardik Pandya (23 off 13), Ravindra Jadeja (17 off 9), and Axar Patel (10 off 6) ensured India posted a competitive total of 171.
India’s comprehensive victory over the defending champions not only booked their place in the final but also highlighted the depth and strength of their squad. As they prepare to face South Africa, the team and fans alike will be looking to Sharma’s leadership and form to bring home the T20 World Cup title.
