IND vs ENG: 3 Surprise Inclusions Team India Can Make In Semi-Final vs England In ICC T20 World Cup 2022

India beat Zimbabwe by 71 runs in MCG on Sunday to head to the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 as the top team from Group 2. India qualified for the semis even before their match against Zimbabwe started. South Africa’s loss to the Netherlands meant that India qualified for the semis then and there. However, their win against Zimbabwe made the moment even more special. Pakistan qualified as the second team from Group 1 to the semis beating Bangladesh who were in with a chance as well.

England and New Zealand are the two teams that made it to the semi-finals from Group 1. Pakistan will take New Zealand in the first semi-final on November 9 in Sydney. The IND vs ENG semi-final will be played on November 10 in Adelaide.

The Indian win was designed by Suryakumar Yadav’s belligerent knock against Zimbabwe. He scored an unbeaten 61 off 25 balls to take India to 186/5. At one point, India lost four quick wickets and looked to reach a maximum of 160. However, SKY’s antics with the bat in the final overs meant that India got to a winning total. Courtesy of Surya’s prime hitting India scored 107 in the back 10 overs.

His good work was backed by all the five Indian bowlers who shared the wickets between themselves. R Ashwin took three wickets while Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya took two each. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel took one each.

The team selection for the Indian management will be interesting to see for the IND vs ENG semi-final. Rishabh Pant replaced Dinesh Karthik in the game against Zimbabwe while Yuzvendra Chahal is yet to get a game.

Indian head coach Rahul Dravid in his post-match presser said that the selection of Chahal will be based on the conditions for the game. He also hinted at Pant being given another game ahead of the final. The southpaw scored just three off five balls but Dravid backed him to perform in the next game. The Indian team selection for the semi-final against England will also be based on matchups as well. In this article, we take a look at three Indian players who might be surprise inclusions for the IND vs ENG semi-final.

IND vs ENG: 3 Surprise Inclusions Team India Can Make In Semi-Final vs England In ICC T20 World Cup 2022

1) Yuzvendra Chahal In Place of Axar Patel

The Indian leg-spinner has not yet featured in any game of the World Cup. With Adelaide providing enough assistance for spinners, Chahal might find himself playing probably in place of Axar Patel. England have a few left-handers in their batting order and thus the duo of Ashwin and Chahal will be a better combination with the ball turning away from them.

The majority of the England batters barring Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali do not play spin well and that is where the Ashwin-Chchal combination might work in India’s favor.

Chahal’s slow and loopy leg spinners will make the batters hit to the big square boundaries of Adelaide wherein lies a chance to get them dismissed.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant Should Be Preferred Over Dinesh Karthik In T20 World Cup 2022 Semi-final, Feel Robin Uthappa, Tom Moody

2)Rishabh Pant In Place Of Dinesh Karthik

Pant played the game against Zimbabwe where he did not score too many runs. Skipper Rohit Sharma at the toss against Zimbabwe said that Pant was given a game because he was one of their main batters yet to play a game.

It will be interesting to see if he is continued to play in the XI. Pant has a good record playing against England and should play in the semi-final. He is a flexible batter who can bat anywhere in the top seven. This also gives him the edge over Karthik who has scored in single digits so far in the tournament.

3) Harshal Patel In Place Of Axar Patel

Arshdeep’s excellent form with the ball might see him being selected over Harshal Patel. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami have done everything right so far to be a part of the playing Xi for the IND ve ENG semi-final. He could only be part of the playing XI India plans to go in with a four-man pace attack which is unlikely in Adelaide given that it has enough assistance for spinners as Ashwin proved against Zimbabwe.

Also Read: IND vs ZIM: Suryakumar Yadav Is “Superbly Confident About His Method”: Andy Flower