When the schedule for the 2023 World Cup was revealed, the spotlight immediately turned to the matchup between India vs. England match was highly anticipated. It was expected to be an exciting clash, as these two teams have a history of thrilling encounters in white-ball cricket. However, the upcoming match in Lucknow on Sunday might not follow the same script.

England’s performance in this tournament has been far from impressive. They’ve lost four out of their five matches, and their net run rate is only slightly better than the Netherlands. Their chances of making it to the next round are slim and they need a miraculous turnaround, starting with their upcoming match against table-topping India.

England’s defending champions have struggled in every aspect of the game, evident as early as the first powerplays in their recent matches against New Zealand, Afghanistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. In contrast, India have been dominant, often looking poised for victory at the halfway stage of their matches.
Key players like Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah have been the driving force behind India’s success in this World Cup. Rohit’s aggressive batting at the top of the order has put fear into opposition bowlers, and his leadership on the field has been exemplary.
Speaking about Rohit’s captaincy, former cricketer S. Badrinath commented:

“His captaincy has been very good. He’s backed the right players and shown confidence in Shardul Thakur. His relationship with the team and he’s a big brother type of captain.”

While Hardik Pandya’s absence due to injury is a significant loss for India, they have a strong all-rounder in Jadeja. However, Rohit may need more options if England’s batting lineup starts performing.

Regarding this, Badrinath suggested,

“I will go with a bowler who can bowl 10 overs since Shardul may not be able to do that consistently. Hardik’s absence is a big miss, but the team needs to find a balance.”

One aspect to watch is India’s middle order, which hasn’t been tested due to the strong performances of Rohit and Kohli at the top. Badrinath cautioned against a repeat of the 2019 situation where the middle order failed in a crucial semi-final match against New Zealand. He stated,

“It’s not a concern, but we hope the 2019 demons don’t haunt India in this tournament.”

In summary, England faces an uphill battle to qualify, while India’s strong team, led by Rohit Sharma, is in excellent form. Hardik Pandya’s absence is a challenge, and India needs to ensure their middle order is ready for any situation. The stage is set for a potentially one-sided encounter in India’s favor this Sunday.