India's Road To The Final: The Men in Blue are on the verge of scripting history. They can become the first team to defend the T20 World Cup title successfully. On Sunday in Ahmedabad, they will face New Zealand in the summit clash. India also has the chance to be the first side with three titles, and the first to win on home soil.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led side currently shares the record for most T20 World Cup trophies with West Indies and England. India claimed the title in 2007 and 2024. West Indies won in 2012 and 2016. England lifted the title in 2010 and 2022.
The host entered this mega event as a favourite. They performed brilliantly in the shortest format and have not lost a single bilateral T20I series since winning the title in June 2024. Their journey featured several brilliant performances. However, the players did face a few challenges.
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A Scratchy Opener
During their tournament opener in Mumbai, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side struggled against the USA. However, skipper Suryakumar scored an unbeaten, match-winning 84 runs off 49 balls. He helped the team bounce back after they were 77/6. The Men in Blue won the match by 29 runs. They then beat Namibia in Delhi. Fifties by Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya took India's score to 209. Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel helped skittle Namibia for 116.
Neighbours Humbled
India played arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo. Kishan's 77 runs helped set a target of 175 on a dry pitch. Fast bowlers Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah took quick wickets, rattling Pakistan's batting attack. They were skittled out for 114 runs. The Men in Blue kept their streak alive in Ahmedabad. They beat the Netherlands, thanks to Shivam Dube's 66 runs and Varun Chakravarthy's match-winning 3/14.
A Brutal Reality Check
The Suryakumar Yadav-led side has lost only one match so far. This was against South Africa during the Super 8s stage. Even though Bumrah took 3/15, the Proteas still scored 185 runs. The hosts then suffered a batting collapse, being skittled for 111. This loss piled pressure on the Men in Blue. They made a brilliant comeback by defeating Zimbabwe and the West Indies in their next two matches.
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Roaring Comebacks
India clashed with Zimbabwe in Chennai. Pandya smashed another fifty. Star opener Abhishek Sharma bounced back to form with 55 off 30 balls. They helped the team post a mammoth 256. Arshdeep Singh took 3/14, helping skittle Zimbabwe for 184.
The Men in Blue then scored another key win against the West Indies in Kolkata. In this high-octane match, Sanju Samson smashed a match-winning 97 off 50 balls. He helped the team chase a 196-run target. Bumrah's 2/36 helped restrict the Caribbean side below 200.
A Semi-Final Win For The Ages
India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah played a huge role in the semifinal against Harry Brook's side on Thursday. England scored just 246 while chasing a mammoth 253, built on Samson's 89. Bumrah took 1/33, bowling Yorkers and slower balls during the death overs. His efforts played a major role in restricting England in the high-octane match.