Former England captain Nasser Hussain has stepped up to defend India against accusations of receiving preferential treatment in the T20 World Cup. These claims arose after India’s dominant 68-run victory over the defending champions, England, securing their spot in the final. Critics, including prominent figures like Michael Vaughan and David Lloyd, alleged that India benefited from playing all their matches under daylight and having a more favourable pitch for the semi-final.
However, Nasser Hussain, now a commentator, strongly disagrees with this narrative. Hussain argues that India’s performance throughout the tournament speaks for itself. He highlights their ability to adapt and thrive in different conditions.
As an example, he points out India’s convincing victory over the 50-over World Champions, Australia, in St Lucia on a batsman-friendly pitch. India then followed this up with another impressive win on a slower, spinner-dominated pitch in Guyana against England.
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“Fair play to them for the way they played,” Nasser Hussain wrote in his Daily Mail column, “and it feels right that India and South Africa, the two unbeaten sides in the tournament, go head to head in Barbados on Saturday.”
India’s strong batting performance in the semi-final, anchored by Rohit Sharma (57) and Suryakumar Yadav (46), laid the foundation for their victory. Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel all contributed valuable runs at the end, pushing the total to a competitive 171/5.
England, in their attempt to chase, struggled against India’s bowling attack, led by Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav. They were eventually dismissed for 103 runs, handing India a well-deserved victory. Nasser Hussain further emphasized that while India’s total of 171 might seem similar to their score in the 2022 World Cup semi-final loss to England, the pitch conditions in Guyana were vastly different.
The combination of low bounce from the seamers and sharp turn from the spinners made batting significantly more challenging. Hussain also praised Rohit Sharma’s adaptability, highlighting his decision to avoid his signature pull shot in favour of a more controlled approach.
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By showcasing their ability to excel in diverse scenarios, India has silenced the critics and earned their place in the final. The cricketing world now eagerly awaits their clash against the undefeated South Africa, a match that promises to be a thrilling display of cricketing prowess.
