Only four of the 20 teams remain as the T20 World Cup semi-finals are held this week. While South Africa will play New Zealand in Kolkata on Wednesday, India, the reigning champions, will face England in Mumbai on Thursday.
After years of being called “chokers” at the end of competitions, Aiden Markram’s South Africa is the only undefeated team in the competition and is full of confidence as they aim for their first World Cup title. South Africa, who finished runners-up two years ago, have won seven straight, including impressive Super Eight victories against India and the West Indies.
The Proteas have a potent batting lineup led by Markram, who has scored 268 runs in seven games. Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickleton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs can all clear the boundary. Keshav Maharaj can tie batters down with his left-arm spin, while quick bowler Lungi Ngidi has taken 12 wickets and has tricked some of the best with his deceptively slow off-cutter.
If there are any, South Africa seem to be psychological in nature, the psychological wounds caused by decades of failing to fire at the crucial moments in World Cups. They were semi-finalists in the 50-over World Cup five times and in the T20 version twice. In 2024, they advanced to the T20 World Cup final for the first time before failing once more.
With six wickets remaining and 26 off fours overs needed, they crumbled and lost to India by seven runs. Eight members of the T20 team were on the winning team in the World Test Championship final last year, which may have helped put those demons behind them.
Despite losing to England in the Super Eights, New Zealand managed to advance to the semi-finals with a higher net run-rate than Pakistan. South Africa defeated them in the group stage in Ahmedabad, but they intend to make amends in Kolkata.
Mitchell Santner, the captain and top spinner, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra are among the depth of all-around quality. Santner has a wide range of bowling options, from the pace of Lockie Ferguson to the leg spin of Ish Sodhi. They are razor-sharp in the field, and opener Tim Seifert frequently delivers an electric start in the power play.
The other three semifinalists’ game-changing, game-winning players are absent in the Kiwis’ ranks. They are the only team in the last four to have suffered two defeats, to England and South Africa. In seven games, they have only defeated Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, two Test-playing countries.
Harry Brook’s England found form to dominate the Super Eights with victories against co-hosts Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and New Zealand, despite some clumsy group stage victories, notably winning a thrilling last-ball match against Nepal. By going up to number three against Pakistan and striking a century that won the game, Brook demonstrated his leadership. In his first World Cup as captain, he is becoming into a shrewd strategist.
Will Jacks is an all-rounder who can be devastating with the bat and has already earned four player of the match titles in seven games. After being expensive in the first two games, Jofra Archer has returned to his scorching best.
Jos Buttler, the opener, has only scored 62 runs in seven games. Despite his lack of confidence and inability to reach a T20 fifty since September of last year, England are unlikely to fire their former captain.
With wins over Zimbabwe and the West Indies in the Super Eights, defending champions India finally delivered their greatest performances when they needed them.
Despite being the clear favorites at the beginning of the event, Suryakumar Yadav’s team was less impressive in the group round. Before Suryakumar’s 84 saved them in their first game against the United States, they were 77/6 and lacking consistency.
By breaking up Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan’s all-left hand combo, Sanju Samson has given strength and balance to the top of the order and disrupted the opposition’s bowling rhythm.
The spin arsenal is led by top-ranked T20 bowler Varun Chakravarthy, who has claimed 12 victims, while Jasprit Bumrah has once again shown himself to be among the best pacers in the game. In a Wankhede stadium with 35,000 spectators, home support might be compared to having a 12th man on the pitch.
Abhishek had three straight ducks after entering the competition as the top T20 batter in the world. His talent was evident with a fifty against Zimbabwe, but he was out for ten against the West Indies, and England will be aiming for an early wicket.
