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'Can't See Them Losing..'- England's WC-Winning Captain Backs India Over Home Nation To Reach Finals

Bumrah and Rohit - (X.com)Bumrah and Rohit - (X.com)

Ahead of India's crucial T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final match against England on June 27 at the Guyana Stadium, several fans and cricket pundits dropped their predictions for the winner of the game.

Most of the pundits backed their home nations, but in an interesting take, former England batter and World Cup-winning captain Paul Collingwood sees India winning the semi-finals and reaching the finals of the T20 World Cup for the 3rd time in their history. 

“Honestly, I can’t see India losing this time. England will need something extraordinary to beat them,” Collingwood said on Star Sports Press Room.

Collingwood, who led England to their maiden T20 World Cup trophy in 2010, heaped massive praise on Indian players, particularly Jasprit Bumrah. The former batter reckoned that Bumrah's four-over spell would be the deciding factor in the upcoming match. 

“India, with their well-rounded squad, stands out particularly for Jasprit Bumrah’s current form. He’s fit, accurate, fast, and highly skilled. No team seems to have an answer for him. In a 120-ball game, having someone like Bumrah with his pace for 24 balls makes a huge difference. India have looked confident even in tough situations and on difficult pitches in America."

Also, Collingwood explained why he feels that India have an edge over England in the semi-finals. The 48-year-old stated that in the 2022 edition, India had a conservative approach in their batting, but now things have changed and the Rohit Sharma-led side looks to attack from the first ball. 

“The previous plan was to attack India aggressively from the start. However, a team like India can’t be surprised by that tactic. In 2022, when India batted first, we knew we could restrict them. Back then, India played conservatively, especially in the first 10 overs, and then tried to catch up later. But India’s approach has changed. They understand that this strategy won’t win World Cups. They need to take risks, be brave, and express themselves freely."

It will be the fifth time that India and England will face each other in the T20 World Cup history. The last time these two met, India lost by 10 wickets.