Moeen Ali has acknowledged that England must be at their peak to overcome India in their T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final. He hopes they can draw inspiration from their decisive 10-wicket victory over India in the same stage of the 2022 tournament when they meet in Guyana on Thursday.
England was the first team to secure a spot in the semi-finals but remained in Barbados for two additional nights after a 10-wicket win over the USA at Kensington Oval confirmed their progress. The semi-final venue was finalised on Monday following India's win against Australia in St Lucia, and England flew to Georgetown on a charter flight on Tuesday morning, while India arrived on Monday night.
This semi-final marks new territory for England, who last played at Providence Stadium during the 2010 edition of the tournament, where they lost to West Indies and narrowly advanced from the first-round group due to a no-result against Ireland. Chris Jordan, having played at Providence twice in the CPL in 2019, is the only squad member with T20 experience at the venue. However, India's experience is also limited, with only a few squad members having played T20Is at Providence last August and in 2019. The outcome will likely depend on which team best adapts to the conditions. Moeen commented before their flight that he had heard it was an amazing place, expecting some spin and a challenging wicket.
Moeen characterised England's World Cup journey as a "rollercoaster ride." He pointed out that an extra hour of rain in Antigua could have eliminated them in the first round. Despite reaching their fourth consecutive T20 World Cup semi-final, they have only defeated one Full Member team - West Indies - in this tournament. He admitted that getting to this stage was tough but emphasised the excitement of being two games away from winning the World Cup.
In contrast, India has maintained a 100 per cent record in completed matches over the past three weeks, solidifying their status as tournament favourites with a victory over Australia on Monday, which knocked the 50-over world champions out of the competition. Moeen noted how strong India looked, reminiscent of their form in the last World Cup, and highlighted Rohit Sharma’s dominance with 92 off 41 balls. Moeen praised Sharma as a world-class player, acknowledging the uncertainty of consistent runs in T20 cricket but recognising India’s depth and skill.
He described India as a brilliant side with all bases covered, insisting that England must be at their best to defeat them. Moeen expressed enthusiasm for the challenge, drawing parallels to their previous semi-final encounter in Australia. He recalled how England's clinical preparation and exceptional batting performance, set up by their bowlers, led to their success in Adelaide. Despite a late surge from India, England's early dominance with the ball ensured their victory.
Arshdeep Singh, who bowled two wicketless overs in the Adelaide semi-final, remained focused on the present after India’s win over Australia. He stated that while the knockout stages are exciting, their motto is to stay grounded and enjoy the current moment.