Former England captain Michael Atherton said India are not “unbeatable” and pointed out some of the hosts’ chinks in the armour ahead of the semifinal clash of the T20 World Cup in Mumbai on Thursday.
India and England will clash for the third time in a T20 World Cup semifinal match after the 2022 and 2024 editions. In 2022, England beat India and in 2024 India avenged the defeat to enter the finals.
Atherton pointed out that there are lapses in India’s camp with only selected bowlers firing, fielding not up to the mark and some of their batters are struggling too.
“India are an exceptional side, obviously, and I thought the run chase against West Indies under pressure (to qualify for the semi-finals) was exceptional,” said Atherton on Sky Cricket Podcast
“But I do not think they are unbeatable. Issues like fielding, bowling if you get after one or two of their main five (bowlers) – they are lacking a spare option in that department.
“Some of their batters have not found their best either, so they are not impregnable. I think England have to be at their best to beat them – and my instinct would be an India vs South Africa in the final, a replay of 2024,” he added.
Commenting on Jos Buttler and Phil Salt’s form in the tournament, who are struggling to get going, Atherton said England have done really well without the two star players not performing. The Harry Brook-side should take lot of confidence from that fact.
“Everybody said before this tournament that if England are going to win it then a big part of it will be the Salt-Buttler partnership, but neither has really got going,” said Atherton.
“They will take confidence from winning without that main bit of their team functioning, and they are getting better.”
