New Delhi: 1992 sequel or 2007 sequel? This question will be answered over the course of Thursday afternoon, as India take on England at the Adelaide Oval in the second semifinal of the Men’s T20 World Cup. The winner will advance to Sunday’s final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to face Pakistan, who had comfortably seen off a dangerous New Zealand side on Wednesday. The loser will go home, disappointed at falling at the penultimate hurdle in their bid to secure a second world title in international cricket’s shortest format.
India v Pakistan would be the first time the two nations met in an ICC tournament final since the inaugural edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007. Given the venue down under, an England vs Pakistan final would be a rematch of the 1992 ODI World Cup final, thirty years later.
Both India and England have had similar tournament trajectories, having lost a single match to South Africa and Ireland respectively, while winning the remainder of their matches, although England also had a washout against Australia. This semifinal will be the first time these two nations have faced each other at any stage of a T20 World Cup since 2009, when England defeated India by just 3 runs at Lord’s in a disastrous Super 8 stage where India lost all their matches.
More recently, the two teams last played a T20I bilateral series in July earlier this year. India had won that series 2-1, with the most memorable encounter being the third T20I at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge, featuring one of the all-time great T20 hundreds by Suryakumar Yadav and a magnificent 77 from 39 balls by Dawid Malan.
England Squad
Jos Buttler (c & wk), Alex Hales, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes
India Squad
Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh
Catch all the live action from IND vs ENG match here:
4.40PM Repeat of 1992 final beckons as 2009 champions face 2010 champions
The classic “Sweet Caroline” plays around the Adelaide Oval now, as the England fans get set to party long into the night, with their team having reached their first Men’s T20 World Cup final since 2016.
As commentator Nasser Hussain points out, it was a drastic loss in Jason Roy’s form and a freak golf injury to Jonny Bairstow in September that opened the door in the top order for Alex Hales. He has burst it through with 4 overs to spare, partnering with Buttler to save England’s best opening partnership for the semifinal to provide sucker punch after sucker punch to the Indian bowling attack, who looked listless and crumbled under pressure. For India, it’s another loss at a knockout hurdle and a white-ball tour of New Zealand later this month, as preparations now focus on next year’s ODI World Cup and the remainder of the 2021-23 World Test Championship cycle. For England, it’s a real shot at a second T20 World Cup title against Pakistan, who also have the same goal. Do join us for the LIVE blog on Sunday, as we bring you over-by-over coverage of the Men’s T20 World Cup fina
4.33PM Over 16 England 170-0 (Buttler 80*, Hales 86*) – Buttler finishes chase off in style with a six as England win by 10 wickets
Shami on for his third over and delivers some decent off-paced length deliveries but England just need a few more boundaries to win this. After knocking it around, Hales plays yet another top class cut shot to a short delivery over point for four! England just need one six now and it’s Buttler, who finishes it off in style! It’s a powerful drive that just about over Kohli’s head at long on, and England have thoroughly destroyed the world’s no.1 ranked T20 international men’s side. It’s going to be a 1992 sequel, not 2007 as we will be treated to England v Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground!!!!!!!
4.27PM Over 15 England 156-0 (Buttler 71*, Hales 81*)
The Barmy Army belts out “Hey Jude” as England have 36 balls to score just 15 more runs, and Axar comes on to finish his spell. It’s a relatively quiet over going for just 2 runs as the openers appear to wait for the pacers to return and finish things off.
4.24PM Over 14 England 154-0 (Buttler 70*, Hales 80*) – England breach 150 and continue hammering of India with 100-metre six
Finally some great fielding from India as Rohit dives to stop a Buttler cover drive from running away to the boundary but it’s all too little too late. And it only takes until the third ball for Buttler to find that extra cover boundary with a powerful drive! Shami goes fuller for the fifth and it’s Buttler’s turn now to up his scoring rate, this time straight down the ground for a GARGANTUAN 100 METRE SIX! Shami goes slightly shorter and it’s horribly mistimed by Buttler but it’s an awful dropped catch and the ball trickles away for four! England have made over 150 inside 14 overs and India have gone to pieces here!
4.20PM Over 13 England 140-0 (Buttler 56*, Hales 80*) – Buttler smashes 17 off Hardik as England look to complete chase in 15 overs
Hardik is on for his third and England are now looking to finish this off in a hurry, finding the gaps with nearly every ball. Hales flat bats a back of length delivery over mid on for three before Buttler hooks it to fine leg for a boundary! Hardik drops it short and Buttler pulls again, this time over midwicket for a fantastic flat six and picks up his half century! 17 off this Hardik over, and England had smashed India out of this game long ago!
4.15PM Over 12 England 123-0 (Buttler 42*, Hales 77*) – Hales continues England’s one-way traffic with seventh six
Ashwin returns with England more than happy to just knock it around and milk singles and twos around the ground as they cruise to the target of 169. And Hales has done it again, got down one knee and swept the penultimate delivery of the over in that same spot behind square leg for his SEVENTH SIX! And he follows this up with a pinpoint cover drive for four! This might be the best T20 WC semifinal innings we’ve seen, since Daryl Mitchell’s half-century against England at Abu Dhabi last year, stunning work from Hales! England now need less than a run-a-ball as the rest of this innings appears academic.
4.10PM Over 11 England 108-0 (Buttler 38*, Hales 66*) – England effortlessly bat India out of the game as Hales collects sixth six
Hardik’s second over is greeted with yet another six from Hales! This time it’s a beautifully picked up pull shot that hits the toblerones on the full, flat and 73 metres and England pass 100! And to think this opener was blacklisted from the England side for the last 3 years, what immense batting depth England have showcased today. Hardik has tried everything, even a pinpoint yorker which Hales digs out for a single, but there’s simply no more scoreboard pressure to work with. Buttler will take strike for the twelfth.
4.06PM Over 10 England 98-0 (Buttler 37*, Hales 57*) – England need 71 off the last 10 overs to set up final with Pakistan
Arshdeep returns for his second and errs short as Hales gives himself room and cuts him excellently to the deep point gap for a boundary! Arshdeep comes round the wicket now but Hales just calmly tucks it away to midwicket for a single. Buttler, on the other hand, is finding it more of a struggle to get Arshdeep’s deliveries off the square, first hitting the ball back to the non-striker’s stumps before pushing it to the fielder at short extra cover. India need wickets, not just dots, but Arshdeep cannot give them that this over, as the England chase rolls on.
3.57PM Over 9 England 91-0 (Buttler 36*, Hales 51*)
Hardik is on to bowl varying lengths and speeds into the wicket but Buttler anticipates him well to play a ramp shot towards fine leg. It looks like a two but a wayward throw from Shami sees the opening pair run four! Hardik and Rohit are livid as India are falling apart here in Adelaide. Buttler slices away a full wider delivery for another couple to keep the scoreboard ticking but Hardik bowls well enough to his field placements to keep Buttler quiet for the final two balls.
3.52PM Over 8 England 84-0 (Buttler 30*, Hales 50*) – Indian bowling attack and Rohit bereft of ideas as Hales races to 50 off 28 balls
Axar on for his third and drags it down again, his trajectories are bouncing far too comfortably for Hales as he pulls him powerfully over deep midwicket for his fifth six! Axar bowls fuller and wicket-to-wicket in response and just concedes three singles for the rest of the over, but England are still so far ahead, as Hales reaches a brilliant half-century off just 28 balls!
3.50PM Over 7 England 75-0 (Buttler 29*, Hales 42*) – Ashwin finds turn on Adelaide pitch but Hales continues hitting sixes
Ashwin to deliver the first over after the powerplay with the field spread out, two in the deep on the off side and three on the leg side. Hales simply drives a length delivery down to long on for a single, while Buttler struggles to get bat on Ashwin’s deliveries turning sharply into the batsman. Ashwin continues to find significant purchase off this surface but Hales provides an excellent counter-attack by getting down on one knee again and sweeping Ashwin behind square leg. A lovely shot again, hitting the boundary toblerone on the full for another six! Hales has taken this innings by the scruff of the neck and retains strike once again.
3.45PM Over 6 England 63-0 (Buttler 28*, Hales 33*) – England continue plundering Indian bowlers and finish powerplay at run rate of 10.50
Axar continues and it’s a dot ball as Hales dangerously tries to cut a relatively straight delivery. But he does brilliantly to get down on one knee, make use of a favourable angle and sweep a fuller ball over fine leg for six! Buttler has the strike now and defends it to short cover for a dot before unconvincingly pulling it to short midwicket on the bounce for consecutive dots. Hardik tries to hype up the crowd but they go silent again as Axar’s poor drag down is pulled better by Buttler this time, to deep midwicket for four!
3.41PM Over 5 England 52-0 (Buttler 24*, Hales 26*) – Hales tonks second six of innings as England breach 50 within powerplay
Shami is on now for some high pace hitting the deck to stem this flow of runs and keeps Hales quiet initially. However, the England opener shuffles across his crease and tonks a fuller ball down the ground, collecting a six off the long straight boundary! Lovely shot! Shami comes back with two dots as Hales cannot get bat on a length ball on his pads. But he does more damage, shuffling to the leg side again on the penultimate delivery and edging it between wide slip and the wicketkeeper for four! England breach 50 inside the powerplay as Hales knocks it around to keep strike for the sixth over.
3.36PM Over 4 England 41-0 (Buttler 24*, Hales 15*)
It’s a roll of the dice from Rohit as Axar is brought on early but Buttler puts pressure instantly, backing away and hitting an inside-out shot over extra cover for four! He tries to do the same shot in the very next ball and it’s poorly timed, but just enough to clear a flailing Hardik at point. Axar has an easier time against Hales, conceding just the one run off two deliveries. The plan didn’t result in a wicket as England continue to milk singles and boss this chase at the outset.
3.33PM Over 3 England 33-0 (Buttler 18*, Hales 13*) – England maximising on powerplay as Hales hits Bhuvneshwar knuckle ball for six
Bhuvneshwar continues for his second and draws a play and miss from Hales, who may be disappointed at failing to capitalise on a short and wide delivery. He does get a single on the subsequent delivery however, while Buttler follows it up with a single to deep point. Bhuvneshwar goes fuller in search of late swing, and Hales flicks it nicely enough to clear the leg side infield for a couple. Bhuvneshwar goes wider with a knuckle ball but it’s a big mistake, as Hales frees his arms, takes two steps down the pitch and cleanly strikes him over long off for six! Hales swings across the line now and picks up another two. Another productive over for England.
3.28PM Over 2 England 21-0 (Buttler 17*, Hales 2*)
Arshdeep shares the new ball with Bhuvneshwar, just as they have done all tournament, with Hales on strike, who picks up a single off a leading edge to the off-side. Arshdeep finds some shape angling in but Buttler gets enough bat on it as it runs away from third man for four! Arshdeep errs down leg side for a wide before picking up a welcome dot ball as Buttler sends Hales back instead of going for the risky run. There’s miscommunication again from the England batsmen on the fourth ball as Buttler cannot get a full toss past mid off. Hales finally retains the strike for the final delivery and keeps it for the next over as he punches the ball to the fielder at deep point.
3.23PM Over 1 England 13-0 (Buttler 12*, Hales 0*) – Jos Buttler kicks off England’s chase with a trio of fours
Alex Hales and captain Jos Buttler walk to the crease to kick off England’s run chase with Bhuvneshwar Kumar opening the proceedings for India. But the first delivery is well wide as Bhuvneshwar searches for that early swing while Buttler looks to counter it by coming down the wicket. Pant has elected to keep at the stumps with his helmet as tactics are adjusted already, But Bhuvneshwar is too short and wide again and it’s an easy boundary for the England captain! The follow up is a much better inswinger that Buttler defends back to Bhuvneshwar but the third ball is again too wide allowing Buttler to place it perfectly through the gap for another four! Bhuvneshwar goes fuller holding the line and Buttler can’t capitalise this time. Pant has gone back to his original position and Bhuvneshwar delivers a beauty, beating Buttler who just tried to jab at it before pulling out of the shot. The final delivery is overpitched on the pads as Buttler collects a third boundary, this time on the leg side. Perfect start for England!
3.08PM
India looked like they were just plodding along to a competitive but mediocre score by the 15-over mark, but Hardik Pandya accelerated brilliantly when no one else could. Targeting Adelaide’s shorter square boundaries, he hit 4 fours and 5 monster sixes, taking down England’s pace attack all by himself as India scored 68 runs in the death overs to reach 168. It’s not yet a match-winning score, but India’s own bowling attack would be confident by the movement and grip the pitch offered to the seamers and spinners respectively. England have a deep batting lineup with extra intent due to the selection of Phil Salt but have often looked unconvincing with the bat over the course of this tournament.
3.06PM Over 20 India 168-6 (Ashwin 0*) – Hardik plunders at the death again as India make competitive par score
Jordan to close out the innings with India just three boundaries away from a steep total, with Pant on strike. It’s a bad full toss bowled wide from Jordan but Pant can only hit it to Stokes at deep point for a single. Jordan attempts another wide yorker to Hardik who opens the face of the bat but can only hit it to the fielder at deep cover for another single. Jordan continues the hustle with a perfect wide yorker which Pant misses. The duo go for the single anyway and Jordan runs Pant out, but India will be happy as Hardik is back on strike. J
ordan misses his yorker this time and Hardik swings the bat again, hoicking the delivery over long on for a huge, 88-metre six! India breach the 160 mark at last but Hardik isn’t done, dispatching a full toss over deep square leg for four! And yet, for the third time, Jordan picks up a wicket to close out the over and his spell, under the most bizarre circumstances, as Hardik has dislodged his own stumps! Hit wicket to end the innings as India reach 168.
2.58PM Over 19 India 156-4 (Hardik 52*, Pant 5*) – Hardik Pandya takes Sam Curran to the cleaners and scores a masterful fifty
Rishabh Pant joins Hardik at the crease as India aim to maximise on the death overs to get a score of at least 160. Curran returns for his final over and Pant immediately makes himself some room and cuts a short ball over third man for four! Curran comes back with an excellent yorker on the toes which Pant digs out to square leg for single. He attempts a wider yorker to Hardik but the batsman anticipates it perfectly, opening the face of the bat and timing to point for four! Curran errs short yet again and Hardik has picked the bones out of this, smashing him over cow corner for six!
There’s now a crisis meeting between Buttler and Curran to ensure that the final ball isn’t another boundary. Curran does decently to deliver it full and Hardik flicks it to Stokes at deep midwicket, but Stokes misfields horribly and concedes the boundary! Hardik gets a masterful 50 and may have just batted India to a an above par score.
2.51PM Over 18 India 136-4 (Hardik 37*) OUT! Hardik hits consecutive sixes but Jordan has last laugh with Kohli wicket
Jordan again errs short and Hardik, deep in his crease, pulls him over deep midwicket for a massive, 84-metre six! Jordan responds with a fuller one but it’s too far leg side, allowing a perfect flick from Hardik over deep square leg for a 77-metre six! Jordan is under major pressure but comes back decently with a well-directed bouncer that Hardik cannot hook away. He follows this up with a pinpoint yorker on the pads, wchich Hardik somehow digs out behind square leg for a single. Kohli attempts a drive to the deep cover boundary but the fielder is quick to it, but Kohli still gets two runs and reaches yet another well-played fifty! A much needed innings by the former captain. And it’s the final delivery where once again, Jordan has the last laugh as Kohli slices a wide yorker to Adil Rashid at short third man, who takes a brilliant diving catch!
2.45PM Over 17 India 121-3 (Kohli 48*, Hardik 24*) – Hardik Pandya smashes Sam Curran for six in productive death over
Curran is back and delivers it short, but the angle is enough for Hardik to capitalise on as he slaps the ball over cover for a flat, 64-metre six! You cannot afford to give this much room on a pitch with shorter square boundaries and Curran pays the price. Curran goes short again, however, and Pandya pulls him to the midwicket gap but Hales does well to prevent a boundary. Curran finally goes fuller, and Hardik can only drive it on the bounce to Moeen Ali at cover inside the circle. The fourth is a wide yorker, but Hardik does enough to slap it down the ground for two. The penultimate ball is a much-needed bouncer for England as Hardik plays and misses, while the over ends with a single clofted out to cow corner.
2.41PM Over 16 India 110-3 (Kohli 48*, Hardik 13*) – India up scoring rate in bid for competitive total
Jordan is back on for his death over spell but immediately errs down leg side for a wide. Hardik then flicks another leg-sider quite hard but there’s fielder protection at deep square leg to keep it to a single. Jordan then yorks Kohli magnificently at his boots, the umpire isn’t convinced but England review, convinced that it hit his pad before his bat. Replays show it did, but Kohli gets a major let-off as the impact on the stumps is “umpire’s call” so England retain the review.
Jordan then offers some width which Kohli pounces on again to deep extra cover for four! Jordan drags back his length and bowls it into the pitch, conceding just a single off Kohli and a two off Hardik due to a Livingstone fumble at deep midwicket. It’s a slower ball bouncer to end the over as Hardik pulls it to midwicket for another single.
2.34PM Over 15 India 100-3 (Kohli 43*, Hardik 9*)
A third over for Livingstone as Kohli plays out another single, but Hardik is finally lining him up, despatching a freebie full ball down the ground for four! Buttler changes the field to bring Rashid straighter and Livingstone collects a dot to cover, before conceding a single to long on. Livingstone collects another dot with a good length ball but can’t close it out as Kohli drives it exquisitely into the gap at deep dover with a boundary!
2.30PM Over 14 India 90-3 (Kohli 38*, Hardik 4*)
Woakes returns for his third and continues bowling full and straight, allowing Kohli to simply push it to the leg side for a single. Hardik has a favourable matchup against pace in the latter part of the innings but it seems to have come a bit too early for him so far as he just rotates the strike for now. Woakes does well to vary his pace and force a mistimed shot from Kohli but it clears the infield on the off side anyway for a welcome boundary!
Woakes tries to rush Hardik with a bouncer but it’s too wide down the leg side, much to Buttler’s chagrin. But the rest of the over is incident-free, from England’s perspective, as India’s need to accelerate remains.
2.25PM Over 13 India 80-3 (Kohli 31*, Hardik 2*) – India slow down against spin following SKY dismissal
Livingstone returns with a poor drag down but Kohli can’t find the wide gaps on the off side, cutting it to the fielder at deep cover for a single. Hardik tries to get things going with a pair of wild hoicks that fall just short of the infielders on the off side. That SKY wicket has clearly slowed things right back down for India as Livingstone gets through another excellent over, bowling to his field placements.
2.22PM Over 12 India 77-3 (Kohli 29*, Hardik 1*)
Hardik Pandya is at the crease now and defends a couple of dots to Rashid, who is about to finish his spell. Pandya and Kohli simply pick up another couple of singles as Rashid completes yet another superb economical spell this tournament.
2.20PM Over 11.2 India 75-3 (Kohli 28*) OUT! Adil Rashid strikes at a crucial time as dangerman SKY holes out to Salt
Adil Rashid has turned this innings on its head!!!!!!! It’s a full one turning away and SKY backs himself to clear the field hitting with the spin on the off side but has chipped it straight to Phil Salt at deep point! Massive massive wicket for England
2.17PM Over 11 India 74-2 (Kohli 27*, Suryakumar 14*) – SKY kick-starts India’s acceleration after the drinks break
Stokes returns for his second over and begins with a lovely full slower ball that beats SKY all ends up. The second ball is a poor one down the leg-side but SKY only glances it for a single. Buttler brings an infielder out to the long off boundary for Kohli, who simply flicks a full ball to midwicket for a single. SKY hasn’t yet adjusted to Stokes’ pace variations and mistimes a grounded ball to mid off.
But he responds brilliantly to the bouncer, hooking it over the keepers’ head to find the finest of gaps between fine leg and third man for a 71-metre six! SKY is here at last, as he anticipates the slower ball full one outside off stump this time and drives it magnificently over cover for four! This is the response India needed after the drinks break.
2.11PM Over 10 India 62-2 (Kohli 26*, Suryakumar 3*) – India tottering at 6.2 runs per over at the drinks break
Rashid resumes, with England trying to ensure SKY doesn’t get off the blocks too quickly. SKY continues to show some intent with a sweep but can’t connect it well enough so he only gets the one. Kohli picks up two off a chip towards long off but is looking similarly scratchy as Rohit as he can’t put away a full toss on the penultimate delivery. SKY drives one to cover to keep strike at the drinks break.
2.06PM Over 8.5 India 56-2 (Kohli 23*) OUT! India stuttering as Chris Jordan suckers Rohit Sharma into ugly leg-side hoick
Mark Wood’s replacement, Chris Jordan, comes on now to get an over in before he’s needed for the death, and concedes just the one run off an ordinary leg side delivery. Jordan has been expensive in recent years and sure enough, Rohit makes the most of some width and hoicks him over deep extra cover on the bounce for four! He comes back well with a pair of dots, the latter of which was nearly a caught and bowled! But it’s his fifth ball that’s the success as Rohit attempts another leg-side hoick but mistimes it horribly as Sam Curran takes a well-judged running catch! The captain has to go for another scratchy innings.
2.02PM Over 8 India 51-1 (Rohit 23*, Kohli 22*)
Rashid continues and is far better with his lines and lengths, drawing a thick outside edge off Rohit’s bat for a dot. He does it again on the third delivery, and Rohit is fortunate that it didn’t carry to short third man. Kohli collects a single with a push to short midwicket as the strike rotation continues. Another solid over for England.
1.59PM Over 7 India 46-1 (Rohit 21*, Kohli 19*) – India continue rebuild as England bring on spinners
The versatile allrounder Liam Livingstone is on now for some more wrist spin and keeps India quiet at first but his third ball is slightly too full and Kohli drives him back down the ground for four! But overall, a decent start for Livingstone on a batting friendly pitch as he concedes just 8 runs.
1.55PM Over 6 India 38-1 (Rohit 20*, Kohli 12*) – India end powerplay with 38 runs and Rahul back in the shed
Adil Rashid to round out the powerplay with some wrist spin, and Rohit instantly sizes him up, sweeping a full delivery over square leg for four! The fielder is well placed at short square leg for the second full delivery to prevent consecutive sweep boundaries. Rohit turns the strike over on the fourth ball and Kohli does the same right back, as India knock it around to end the powerplay.
1.52PM Over 5 India 31-1 (Rohit 14*, Kohli 11*)
Rohit has been visibly “out of nick” and “frustrated with himself” over his form in the first few overs, but he gleefully flicks a full delivery from Sam Curran over short midwicket for four! Curran draws his length back slightly but Rohit goes down the pitch and dispatches him again in the same area for consecutive boundaries. He looks to get a third too over backward point but Brook does excellently to get a hand to it and keep it to one. Curran does better against Kohli, pitching it up and straight and drawing an LBW shout. But it’s clearly pitched outside leg stump so the umpire is unmoved.
1.47PM Over 4 India 21-1 (Kohli 10*, Rohit 5*) – Kohli smashes Woakes for six but a quiet start for India overall
Woakes continues, following his breakthrough but his full ball offering width is dispatched over cover by Kohli for six! Top shot, maximising the shorter square boundaries at this venue. Woakes goes straighter and shorter in response, conceding the single to deep square leg. Rohit turns the strike back over, and Woakes later errs in line down leg side for a wide. But it’s a good comeback overall from Woakes after conceding the six, as Rohit gets down on one knee to try to ramp the final ball over fine leg but only gets a bottom edge.
1.42PM Over 3 India 11-1 (Rohit 1*, Kohli 2*)
New man at the crease Kohli faces England’s first change seamer Sam Curran, who begins with a wobbled seam beauty, once again beating the outside edge. His second delivery draws that outside edge, but Kohli appears to play with soft hands to ensure that the ball doesn’t carry to Moeen Ali at first slip. Kohli finally gets off strike with the third ball, a simple push to point. Curran is similarly on the money to Rohit and even gets an LBW shout off the final ball, as Rohit swipes across the line.
1.38PM Over 1.4 India 9-1 (Rohit 1*) – OUT! England draw first blood as Woakes extracts bounce to dismiss KL Rahul
Woakes shares new ball duties on this used pitch with a green tinge, and delivers full and straight to Rohit who simply plays it to Jordan and mid on for a dot. His second ball is slightly more leg side, allowing Rohit to glance it towards deep midwicket for a two. Woakes drifts it on the pads again in a failed attempt to find some movement and just concedes a single. But to Rahul, he delivers a much better short ball and draws that outside edge! Buttler collects cleanly and Rahul has to walk back, as Woakes does well to drop his length and extract the extra bounce required. First blood to England.
1.34PM Over 1 India 6-0 (Rahul 5*, Rohit 1*)
Stokes to take the new ball, as he has done so all tournament and right away KL Rahul takes advantage of the width offered and picks up a boundary before taking a single. Stokes goes fuller to Rohit in search of swing and shapes away from him as he plays and misses. He goes straighter now, allowing Rohit to punch it to the cover fielder for a single. The penultimate ball is his best so far, beats Rahul’s outside edge on a length, before getting a dot on the final delivery.
1.11PM England have won the toss and captain Jos Buttler has elected to bowl first. In light of muscle injuries to Dawid Malan and Mark Wood, Buttler has announced two changes to the side that beat Sri Lanka last Saturday — Phil Salt and Chris Jordan come in. India, on the other hand, are unchanged from the lineup that faced Zimbabwe.