T20 World Cup: 2022 déjà vu for England in opposition to ‘beatable’ and ‘weak’ India in Thursday’s Mumbai semi-final?

England are experiencing a case of T20 World Cup déjà vu.

Again in 2022, they stuttered initially – shedding to Eire – earlier than choosing up type, dealing with India within the semi-finals and occurring to win the competitors.

Now, in 2026, they stuttered initially – shedding to West Indies – earlier than choosing up type, dealing with India within the semi-finals and…

Properly, that is the place the similarities cease for now as England nonetheless must beat India – in Mumbai on Thursday (1.30pm first ball, reside on Sky Sports activities) – earlier than dreaming of occurring to win the competitors.

Sky Sports activities’ Michael Atherton feels Harry Brook’s facet are able to defeating Suryakumar Yadav’s host nation however says they are going to have to be at their peak to take action.

That features opening pair Jos Buttler and Phil Salt firing for the primary time in tandem within the match, with the duo’s finest stand thus far throughout video games in opposition to Nepal, West Indies, Scotland, Italy, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand a meagre 38.

Final day trip they added two. The sport earlier than that no runs by any means, with Buttler’s type significantly alarming.

But, England have nonetheless been capable of trend wins. In opposition to Pakistan, that was mainly by captain Harry Brook’s 50-ball hundred. Versus New Zealand, it was principally down to a different very important knock from Will Jacks at No 7, assisted by Rehan Ahmed.

Atherton advised the Sky Cricket Podcast: “Everybody said before this tournament that if England are going to win it then a big part of it will be the Salt-Buttler partnership, but neither have really got going.

“They are going to take confidence from successful with out that fundamental little bit of their workforce functioning and they’re getting higher. Nevertheless, I do not suppose they’ve been on their recreation.

“I have been asking myself whether this tournament will equate to 2022 where come the absolute crunch they got better and better.”

Atherton: India usually are not impregnable

4 years in the past, England, to make use of Athers’ phrases “wiped the floor with India”, cantering to a 10-wicket win in Adelaide after reaching a goal of 169 with 4 overs to spare.

Buttler after which opening accomplice Alex Hales every clubbed unbeaten half-centuries as India’s look forward to a primary international white-ball title for the reason that 2013 Champions Trophy prolonged.

Since then, although, India have gained two: the 2024 T20 World Cup after they breezed previous England within the semi-finals after which the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Having gone unbeaten in these tournaments, many predicted that they might ease to this 12 months’s T20 World Cup title.

However they have been soundly thumped by a power-packed South Africa within the Tremendous 8s and their fielding has not been all that sharp with 13 catches happening. Components that can give England hope.

Athers added: “India are an distinctive facet, clearly, and I assumed the run chase in opposition to West Indies beneath stress [to qualify for the semi-finals] was distinctive.

“However I do not suppose they’re unbeatable. Points like fielding, bowling in the event you get after one or two of their fundamental 5 – they’re missing a spare choice in that division.

“Some of their batters have not found their best either so they are not impregnable. I think England have to be at their best to beat them – and my instinct would be an India vs South Africa in the final, a replay of 2024.”

Former India worldwide Dinesh Karthik additionally expects his nation and South Africa – who face New Zealand within the first semi-final in Kolkata on Wednesday (1.30pm UK, additionally reside on Sky Sports activities) – to contest Sunday’s showpiece in Ahmedabad.

But he accepts that India are weak with opening batter Abhishek Sharma solely managing one fifty in six innings at this World Cup (he started his match with three successive geese).

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been costly in current video games after a superb begin to the match.

Karthik added: “Walking into the World Cup there were three players India could not afford to drop form in Jasprit Bumrah, Chakravarthy and, obviously, Abhishek – the impact he has had in the last two years has been phenomenal.

“Two out of three haven’t had an excellent World Cup which is why you are feeling this India facet is a contact weak.”

Watch England vs India within the T20 World Cup semi-finals, at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, reside on Sky Sports activities Cricket and Sky Sports activities Major Occasion from 1pm on Thursday (1.30pm first ball).

England’s T20 World Cup outcomes and fixtures

Spherical one

Tremendous 8s

Semi-finals

• vs India (Mumbai) – Thursday March 5 (1.30pm)