IND vs ENG: "We Are A Squad That Prefers To Focus On Ourselves": Ben Stokes On Playing India In The Semi-Finals
Published - 08 Nov 2022, 03:00 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:14 AM
Ben Stokes, an all-rounder for England, has acknowledged that in India for the second T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal, they would face a very formidable opponent. The English team, he claimed, prefers to concentrate more on itself than on the competition.
On Thursday, November 10, at the Adelaide Oval, India and England will square off in the second semifinal of the T20 World Cup.
With four victories in five Super 12 games, the Men in Blue finished first in Group 2 with eight points. England, on the other hand, finished second in Group 1 after defeating Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.
Stokes was questioned about playing Team India in the knockout round of the T20 World Cup 2022 during a news conference on Tuesday. He answered:
“We know we need to win this game on Thursday against a very good Indian team, which no one will ever take lightly because of the players on their roster.” But we are a team that prefers to concentrate on ourselves rather than on the opposition.”
India and England have each won one T20 World Cup. The Englishmen won the inaugural competition in 2010, while the Men in Blue came out on top in 2007.
Ben Stokes’ courageous innings led the side to victory:
In Sydney’s must-win Super 12 game against Sri Lanka, Ben Stokes opened out with a key inning of 42*. England lost half their team for 111 as they attempted to reach 142 to qualify for the semifinals. Stokes led the club to victory with resolute innings, though. He provided the following explanation when asked about the performance:
“Just chilled. Knew what I had to do. I assessed pretty early that I was going to try my hardest to be there at the end. The situation itself wasn’t too much of an ask. It was basically just a run-a-ball, but the wicket was slowing up. So I assessed and decided that I’ll be there till the end.”
Sam Curran (4) and Ben Stokes produced a useful 18 runs for the sixth wicket after Moeen Ali was bowled for one run. The winning runs were subsequently scored when Chris Woakes drove a short, wide delivery from Lahiru Kumara to the boundary in the final over.
