Join us as we dive into the thrilling semi-final match where India secured a resounding 68-run victory over England, setting up a highly anticipated final against South Africa. We break down key performances from Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav that led India to the final. Hear from England captain Jos Buttler on his team's performance and India's impressive play on a challenging surface. Get ready for an in-depth discussion on what to expect in the epic final clash between the tournament's unbeaten teams!
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NewsTranscript
00:00Hello, everyone. You're watching Pitch Battle. I'm your host, Indranil.
00:06One more win and a knockout match.
00:10And good reason for us to celebrate, right?
00:14I mean, till the final match is not won, we can't say anything.
00:17But good start. The way we are crushing the opposition.
00:21There's a little change in the template.
00:23Indian team earlier, or any other team, in the knockout matches,
00:26would win the toss and very promptly opt to field.
00:31But here, Indian team is going after that kind of mindset,
00:36where you just bat first, put a score on the board,
00:40and then put pressure on the opposition.
00:42And they can do it.
00:44Bowlers win new tournaments and they can do it,
00:46because bowlers are in perfect shape.
00:49And it can't get better than this, what we have seen.
00:53England being crushed.
00:56Revenge. Sweet revenge.
00:59Well taken. I mean, a lot of things are happening.
01:02And now, there was a time when we used to talk about
01:04how India are not winning the ICC events for last 11 years or so.
01:09And are we like South Africans?
01:13But now we are facing the South Africans.
01:15What more can you ask for?
01:18I mean, this is a perfect script.
01:20I mean, final between India and South Africa.
01:22We'll see who's actually going to choke on Saturday.
01:26But it's not India. I hope not.
01:29We're joined by Avinash, Shakya, friends.
01:36I mean, it can't get better than this.
01:38I thought the 13th over, Avinash went,
01:41Sam Curran went for 19 runs,
01:44and there's those two sixes of Hardik Pandya's bat.
01:48That was a good start.
01:50I mean, that was the momentum we needed,
01:53which was very, very tough to bat on.
01:55You know, double pace, the odd ball was keeping low.
01:58But brilliant, brilliant work by the bowlers.
02:06Definitely.
02:07Credit to the Indian bowling lineup for once again,
02:10showing the class, the temperament that they have.
02:13English side, as we see, they have been doing well.
02:18But they were not invincible this time around.
02:21Indian team is looking in a better shape.
02:25You just mentioned about the template,
02:26the kind of game this team is playing.
02:29And if you talk about the finals,
02:31it's going to be a battle of equals
02:33because both the teams are so far unbeaten
02:37and they played some good cricket.
02:39And both these teams are coming up
02:42from good wins against the English side.
02:45Let's not forget the way South Africa,
02:48the game just kind of switched between both the two sides.
02:54The momentum kept shifting from one side to the other.
02:58Fate also kept changing.
03:01But eventually, it was South Africa
03:02which prevailed over the English side.
03:05And it was once again,
03:06the bowlers who did the job for South Africa.
03:09And last night also what we saw
03:11was Team India's bowlers once again showing their class
03:15and finishing it in style.
03:18And as you rightly mentioned about the sweet revenge,
03:22I mean, the Adelaide Oval match
03:24where you were completely outbatted
03:27by the English openers,
03:29Jock Butler and Alex Sales.
03:31They chased down that 60, 70-odd runs quite convincingly.
03:36It was good to see Indian bowlers returning in time.
03:41And had it not been a couple of lusty blows
03:45from Jofra Archer lower down the order,
03:48the English would not have been able
03:49to touch the triple-figure mark.
03:52And to me, it would have been a much sweeter revenge
03:56had the English team not touched the under-figure mark.
03:59But nevertheless, it was a very good clinical,
04:02thorough performance from the Indian side.
04:05And they'll take a lot of confidence
04:07from this game into the finals.
04:10And yes, the kind of experience
04:13Team India has going into the finals,
04:17playing into the finals,
04:18would definitely give them edge
04:20because the South Africans,
04:22the choker stag that they've had over these many years
04:26is because they've not been able to qualify
04:30from the knockout stages of the semifinals
04:33or the quarterfinals into the finals.
04:36So the last time we saw them qualifying
04:38for the finals was in the 2015 World Cup semifinals.
04:44Prior to that, in the 2014 World Cup semifinal
04:47in Bangladesh, T20 World Cup semifinal,
04:50Team India knocked them out.
04:51And it was a very good contest, let's not forget.
04:54It was a very well-balanced South African side.
04:59This year's side is good,
05:01but I do feel it was that 2014 side
05:05which made a lot of noise
05:08and they were playing some fantastic cricket.
05:13Absolutely.
05:14I mean, for the third time,
05:16we are in the final of T20 World Cup.
05:20Of course, it last happened,
05:22if I'm not mistaken, in 2014.
05:25We lost that final to Sri Lanka.
05:28After a long time, we are in there.
05:30But we have been in that semifinal, final,
05:32in all formats for a long time.
05:34We've been a champion side.
05:36And yesterday, we saw what this Indian team could do.
05:40But what's wrong with Virat Kohli?
05:43Actually, what's wrong with Rohit Sharma?
05:45I mean, everything is good with Virat Kohli.
05:47He's actually at least making an effort.
05:50He got that six, which was in the slot.
05:52And then he tried the same shot.
05:54The ball stopped and it hit stump
05:57because it was early on to the shot.
06:00But what's wrong with Rohit Sharma?
06:02Why is he in tremendous form?
06:06Really, I'm so happy to see him
06:07because he was struggling to score runs in T20
06:09over the last two years or so.
06:11And to see him peak at the right time,
06:14the Australia match, the England match,
06:16the two champions of white-ball cricket,
06:19one of T20 defending champion,
06:23another is, of course, defending champion in 50-over format.
06:26The way Rohit Sharma played,
06:30anchored the innings, played his shots.
06:32He was playing a double role.
06:34Shakya, you must be very happy.
06:36A Rohit Sharma fan, an old Rohit Sharma fan.
06:39I hope he continues.
06:41I hope he doesn't, actually, till 27.
06:47Wonderful innings by Rohit Sharma yesterday.
06:50And like both the games,
06:53and these are two crucial games.
06:54And the two, in my view, the two strongest teams,
06:57these two teams and West Indies.
06:59For me, I'll hold my hand up and say
07:03that India were not the strongest team
07:05entering the World Cup.
07:06I had Australia, England, West Indies.
07:08They were ahead.
07:10But Rohit Sharma has played two very, very good innings
07:16based on the situation against Australia and England.
07:21And yesterday, he set the game up.
07:24He and Surya Kumar Yadav set the game up.
07:26And Rohit, he would have gone on for more.
07:29I mean, the delivery of Adil Rashid kept very low.
07:32But that set them up because the spinners,
07:36the Indian spinners,
07:37they got the hint that this is how the wicket was going to play.
07:41And you have India reached 170,
07:42which was probably 15-20 runs more than they actually needed.
07:46A lot of that went on Rohit Sharma.
07:49And he's playing according to the needs of the situation.
07:53I must say, I don't think that it's the milestones that matter.
07:59He'll take a World Cup trophy ahead of any milestones.
08:02And ahead of any milestones.
08:04And yesterday, after India won the match,
08:06he got a little emotional, I guess,
08:08what happened in the 22 semifinal that affected him.
08:12So, he's playing well and I hope he keeps it up.
08:15I hope he keeps it up.
08:16There was some conversation yesterday about
08:20Yashaswi Jaiswal coming in for the final
08:22and Virat playing at number 3.
08:24I don't think they should do that.
08:25Because Rishabh Pant at number 3 and Surya Kumar Yadav at 4,
08:29the balance is pretty good.
08:31If I see a change, I don't think it will happen.
08:35If they play Sanju Samson instead of Shivam Dubey,
08:38I don't think it will happen.
08:39I think the balance will be kept.
08:41I still believe Virat Kohli will come good in the final.
08:44And Shivam Dubey will also…
08:45I feel he has something left in him.
08:47Because South Africa has got two quality spinners.
08:51We are talking about Rohit Sharma right now.
08:52You were very good with Shivam Dubey.
08:55No, I think Rohit played very well.
08:58I don't want to jinx him.
08:59I don't want to jinx him.
09:00I hope he produces something like this in the final as well.
09:03Yeah, yeah.
09:03But Avinash, you talk about Rohit Sharma.
09:07You know, I mean, of course, he played the captains now.
09:09He carried the team.
09:10And what I really like, he rubbed that confidence
09:12to someone who's never clicked that consistently
09:15into knockout matches with Surya Kumar Yadav.
09:18The way he guided Surya.
09:19I mean, no one is talking about that.
09:21And the way Surya was guided by Rohit.
09:22Rohit has all the wealth of experience.
09:25And Surya was absolutely…
09:27I mean, he was not that flashy.
09:30He was, you know, turning it on by, you know,
09:33taking the singles, ones and twos and ran hard in the wickets.
09:39And it was Rohit Sharma, you know, not only him.
09:42He inspired others to come forward.
09:44And he was really worried.
09:46Even with that score of 170-plus, he looked worried.
09:50The moment the innings got over, he said,
09:51okay, I have to get it done no matter what.
09:53And bowlers were super confident.
09:55I mean, why not?
09:56We have a Kuldeep, all match-winning bowlers.
09:59We kept taking bowlers.
10:00And then you have Raksha Patel coming and doing what he's doing.
10:04Fantastic.
10:05I mean, one thing is sure.
10:08I mean, you don't have to turn the ball to be a spinner in modern day cricket.
10:12You have to just tag the stumps.
10:15And let the pitch do everything, you know, using the conditions well.
10:20Rohit also talked about it.
10:22But Rohit carrying the team together, carrying the innings together,
10:26holding it tight and inspiring someone like Surya Kumar Yadav.
10:32Never seen him playing so majestically.
10:36You know, I mean, he was in complete control of things
10:39when he was hitting those boundaries, over boundaries.
10:42I liked it.
10:43And this is what Rohit did, which is amazing.
10:47Absolutely.
10:48And let's be very frank and honest that had it not been Rohit Sharma at the other end,
10:54Surya Kumar Yadav would not have played the kind of block that he played.
10:58He was all over the places.
11:00He was struggling.
11:01He was, I mean, he's one of a kind batter who loves when the ball comes nicely onto his bat.
11:08It was not the case last night.
11:11And he just looked, at times he looked just confused and annoyed with the kind of pitch
11:20that was on offer because the ball was not coming.
11:23There was a dual pace.
11:25It kept getting slower and slower.
11:29And Surya Kumar Yadav, he just had to come out of his comfort zone and play that kind of a knock.
11:37I would have been a little more happier had he focused more on rotating the strike.
11:43Because he was struggling.
11:45Literally, he was struggling.
11:46But because of the fact that there was someone like Rohit Sharma who has a wealth of experience
11:52of playing on such kind of a track.
11:55We saw Surya Kumar Yadav coring those 45-odd runs.
12:00It's very simple, Avinash.
12:01You know, I mean, when you're playing spinners on a slower track where the ball is actually
12:06doing a lot, you know, going up and down.
12:09Best way is to just wait for the ball to come to you.
12:11Yes.
12:13Rohit used all his experiences.
12:17You know, why Virat got out?
12:18The fact that he went early into the shot.
12:20Exactly.
12:21Yeah.
12:22And that was not the kind of a ball that he should have attempted to come out of his creep.
12:28Yeah.
12:28Block it and do whatever.
12:30I mean, take a single or something.
12:31He got a six out of that same, similar ball of that left-arm seamer.
12:37Yeah.
12:37And this one kept low.
12:39This one kept low.
12:41It came a little late also.
12:42Because of the double cleats you're talking about, right?
12:44So, that is the thing.
12:45So, you have to wait.
12:47Don't commit yourself.
12:48That's the basics of batting.
12:50And that's the…
12:51Virat Kohli…
12:52Exactly.
12:53He's the master.
12:55But, I mean, on this kind of pitches, what we saw from Rohit Sharma, Virat could have
13:00done the same probably in the final.
13:01But all this talk about Yashaswi Jaswari, it doesn't happen like that.
13:05Oh, definitely not.
13:07You should back it up, you know.
13:08And the fact that you've changed Shiraj to Kuldeep and that is for a reason.
13:14Without a reason, why should you do that?
13:17That's the main thing.
13:18Also, why tamper with the winning combination?
13:21When you are going with a winning combination, things are running fine for you.
13:27Yes, Shivam Dubey has not had the kind of impact that everyone was expecting him to
13:33have.
13:33But nevertheless, he's been contributing.
13:37He's trying his level best.
13:39It was not a pitch where even the best of batters would have scored runs.
13:45Just look at the scorecard of the English batters.
13:48Every single one of them struggled on the surface.
13:52Yes, if you talk about the quality of English and NDR spinners, I would rate the Indians
14:00having a slightly better edge.
14:04Because the English side, it was just about how the Indians are going to play Adil Rashid.
14:10And we saw what he did.
14:12Yes, Livingston just kind of escaped.
14:16He finished with better numbers economically.
14:23But it was also because of the fact that George Burton had realized that the pitch
14:30had gotten slower soon after the match, after the rain break.
14:36And the Indians had to once again get into their grooves, set their eyes.
14:42So that precious time of, say, between the 8th to the 11th over, George Burton utilized
14:48and rotated his bowlers quite well.
14:51But I think a lot of credit has to go to Hardik Pandya for shifting the momentum of
14:59this game.
14:59Those two lusty blows.
15:02And we could see there was a shift in the body language of the Indian dressing room
15:11after those two shots were hit by Hardik.
15:15Suddenly the confidence of this Indian team was going to just another level.
15:21Because they now were pretty confident.
15:24Okay, 150 is touched.
15:27They crossed 150.
15:28And 150 was the fighting total that they were looking at.
15:34Exactly.
15:35They got at least 15 to 20 orders extra.
15:37And those 20 orders kind of, at the end of the innings, shifted the momentum completely
15:44from the English dressing room to the Indian side.
15:48We could just make out, Rohit looked a little tense because he was the captain of the side.
15:54But if you look at the faces of the others, Virat was quite very confident that, yeah,
16:00we're going to defend it.
16:01Jathpreet Gomara, he hardly chose what is going inside his brain or what is inside his
16:10heart on his face.
16:12But looking at the kind of confidence that the rest of the players were showing, it was
16:19evident that the Indian side is confident and upbeat of winning this game.
16:29Well, we have won the game and we are going to win one more time to be the champion side.
16:35I mean, I'm really hoping that happens.
16:37But Akshar Patel, I mean, every time, even I do a little bit of spin bowling once in
16:42a while and people accuse me that you can't turn the ball as much as you should be.
16:47But looking at Akshar, he's actually giving me a lot of hope that, you know, I've always
16:53maintained that if turning was everything as a spinner, Stuart McGrill would have got
16:58more wickets than Shane Bourne.
16:59But that's not the case.
17:01You have to attack the stumps.
17:03You have to know where you have to bowl, bowl to the body, bowl with good pace.
17:10The dynamics has changed so much.
17:12And Akshar Patel, Kuldeep, wearing those six wickets between them.
17:18And then, I mean, this is what South Africans are thinking right now.
17:22We'll talk about that later.
17:23But Akshar Patel, you know, the way he was treated in the last World Cup, when he was
17:30in the team, then he had a little injury in the Asia Cup, sort of told to recover.
17:34Then he recovered and he was not taken in.
17:36Then he was playing domestic matches.
17:39Then Ashwin got in.
17:40They wanted Ashwin.
17:41They thought two similar kind of cricketer.
17:44He's always lived under Jadeja's shadow, Ravindra Jadeja's shadow.
17:48But do you think Akshar, the way he's come up, the way he's doing it, he will sort of
17:55nudge Jadeja a little more than…
17:58Because, you know, getting a man-of-the-match award in a knockout match is a huge thing,
18:02Shakya.
18:03And how do you see that?
18:04I mean, that little competition which is always there.
18:07And Jadeja being the number one player in all formats, because he plays all formats,
18:14bats, bowls, fields with same intensity.
18:17He's always been the guy who's there.
18:19He's never scored as much as he should have scored.
18:22I've seen him doing well in the bat.
18:24It does match.
18:26But now, Akshar Patel, where does he stand?
18:30What are his chances of overtaking Jadeja?
18:33I think in wide-wall cricket, Akshar Patel has been a very, very big claim to overtake
18:38Jadeja.
18:39At least in T20, he should now.
18:41And I think even in ODIs, he should be ahead of Jadeja.
18:43It's in test cricket where Jadeja still has the edge.
18:46Because he has that experience.
18:49He has that experience.
18:50That he has those extra…
18:53That's extra something which helps you do…
18:55He has got all those wickets in test cricket.
18:57So, even at the moment in test cricket, Jadeja is still in front.
19:01But in limited-overs cricket, definitely Akshar Patel is pushing Jadeja…
19:06Is going ahead of Jadeja.
19:09But if you look at the composition of the Indian team for this particular World Cup,
19:13Akshar Patel wasn't a sure shot in the 15.
19:18He was one of those 50-50 choices.
19:22Because Rinku Singh got left out.
19:24And they were contemplating if he should carry another fast bowler.
19:29And then Rohit Sharma said, I wanted four spinners.
19:32Then at the start of the tournament, India…
19:34You know, Akshar Patel was being…
19:37When he was playing at No. 8, the thought process was India was extending their batting.
19:42That's why they were playing both Akshar and Jadeja together.
19:45So, from there, from having actually started…
19:50From having been a 50-50 selection for this World Cup to having started this tournament
19:55with the thought process of lengthening the batting order to now becoming a front-line bowling option
20:00and being the man of the match in the semi-final.
20:02This has been a remarkable transformation for Akshar Patel.
20:05And he has been improving day-by-day in all…
20:10In fact, last time I met him, I asked him, are you a bowling all-rounder or a batting all-rounder?
20:17He said, when I am batting, I am a batsman.
20:18When I am bowling, I am a bowler.
20:20I said, wow, what an answer.
20:22What a smart man.
20:22Yesterday, Ishaan Sharma was saying in the pre-match show that he is a very street-smart cricketer.
20:31He actually was saying that Akshar Patel is more of a Delhiite than a Gujarati.
20:38I mean, that is debatable.
20:39But that's what Ishaan Sharma was trying to say.
20:42A message that you will find Akshar Patel's mindset is more from what he sees in people in Delhi.
20:47But you know, coming back to another point…
20:50You have been travelling with the team for such a long time.
20:54If you don't start performing, when will you do it?
20:57I mean, we are talking about empowering youngsters.
20:59He has crossed that level.
21:01You know, I mean, the mangoes are ripe.
21:03Now, eat them.
21:04You know, that's the kind of a thing.
21:06Just one more point.
21:08That, you know, the discussion on Surya Kumar Yadav was going on before this.
21:11You know, Surya Kumar Yadav, he is one of those cricketers who will have a short but
21:16flourishing career.
21:17He is a bit like Mike Hussey.
21:19Like Robin Singh, they had short careers.
21:22You know, Mike Hussey made his debut at the age of 30.
21:25Robin Singh made his debut at the age of 33.
21:27Surya Kumar Yadav doesn't look very old, but he is 34.
21:30And he made his debut at the age of 31.
21:33And, you know, it seems like he has been around forever.
21:36But, you know, we think he is young, but he is 34.
21:39So, he will have a short…
21:40You know, he will make a big impact in a short career.
21:44And I hope one of those impacts will be bringing back a World Cup trophy on Saturday.
21:50I remember we used to talk 3-4 years earlier when Surya wasn't in the international side.
21:56And we were talking about he should be playing for India.
21:58I know you once shared WhatsApp conversations that you shared with Surya where you were,
22:04you know, encouraging him that, you know, your time will come to play for India.
22:07You shared those messages with me.
22:08So, yeah.
22:09No, I'll tell you.
22:10I'm looking at, as you talk, Rohit Sharma's age.
22:13I'm sorry, but it's never about the age.
22:15It's always about the mileage.
22:1737 years old.
22:19So, after seeing the way Rohit is playing and big tournament,
22:23he can pick and choose from, you know, like Sachin used to do.
22:27Avinash, 26 World Cup, if you win tomorrow,
22:31will Rohit be targeting that with Virat Kohli?
22:34And the youngsters can put their, you know, buy their sleeping bags.
22:45Let's keep this debate posted for Sunday after the results are out.
22:53And for now, I think it's better.
22:58We just keep our focus on tomorrow's game.
23:03I strongly believe that if Rohit and Virat, I mean, they should end up lifting the trophy.
23:11And everybody has been speaking about,
23:16whenever we travel during the ODI World Cup, everybody was speaking,
23:20let's win it for Virat.
23:21Let's win it for Virat.
23:22I mean, Rohit is no different.
23:24I mean, in terms of international experience, Rohit is far more senior than Virat.
23:29He made his debut back in 2007 itself.
23:32Virat had to wait for a couple of more years to make his debut.
23:36He had not burst onto the scene before Rohit had already had a T20 World Cup in the cabinet.
23:44So, that way, Rohit should also be celebrated.
23:48This World Cup, they should not just win it for Virat Kohli.
23:54In fact, it should also be won for the champion battle that Rohit Sharma has won.
24:01And the way he served, at least in the wide ball format,
24:05the contributions that he's made for India over these years.
24:08And, I mean, yes, there was a super fan of the Indian cricket team, Sugumar, the RCB fan.
24:17T20 or not, I don't know that.
24:19Exactly. I'm coming to that.
24:21There was a placard.
24:23A lot of fans were carrying these placards of the 2023 World Cup final.
24:31Thank you, Rahul Dravid.
24:33So, it's going to be his final assignment as well tomorrow.
24:36And it's going to be an emotional evening for Indian fans,
24:42those who've seen Rahul Dravid's contribution, coin and cricket.
24:46So, let's hope that Team India wins it for Rahul Dravid.
24:50It's a tribute to Rahul Dravid as well.
24:53Because the service that this man has done to Indian cricket,
24:57he doesn't have, I mean, the World Cup.
25:01So, do we tell Gautam Gambhir to wait or Rahul Dravid to continue after this?
25:06That's totally up to Rahul Dravid.
25:08If he wants to continue, I would be definitely very happy.
25:13But that's going to be his decision.
25:15Now, coming back to Rohit and Virat Kohli,
25:18if you've won the T20 World Cup,
25:20if you have a trophy in the cabinet,
25:23it's time for you to pass the baton and let the youngsters take over.
25:28You've done your part.
25:29Nobody's going to question once you have this trophy in the bag
25:34that you are actually a world champion now.
25:38So, that would be the best thing for these two stalwarts to just come up and say,
25:45okay, the gentlemen, we've done our part.
25:48It's time for you to rise and shine and carry our legacy forward.
25:55And it's up to you to ensure that the weight that we've had...
26:00You know, a mistake which probably Sachin Tendulkar did
26:04after winning the 2011 World Cup,
26:05you should have let it go.
26:08I hope these guys don't do the same.
26:09I hope Dhoni shouldn't have played this year, in fact.
26:13He should have let it go after winning last year's IPL.
26:16So, the timing is very important.
26:17And the only guy who's done it so well timing-wise is Sunil Gavaskar, sir.
26:21Or I don't remember who else did it in Indian cricket.
26:25Everyone was actually sort of told,
26:28time is up, buddy, move on.
26:31And that's how Indian cricket has been functioning.
26:34You know, if I might come in...
26:37Yeah, yeah, please.
26:38Rohit and Virat play at positions where there are sufficient number of replacements available in T20 cricket.
26:46And if you look at the team that has been announced...
26:49But what about the pressure?
26:50When Rohit Sharma is in so much of pressure, you know, youngsters could crumble.
26:57I mean, I'm actually...
26:58Yeah, they would have.
27:00I agree with my own words.
27:01But, you know, the pressure of playing Australia.
27:04Pressure, you know, I mean...
27:06Totally.
27:06I mean, I don't think SSV Jaiswal wouldn't have managed to hammer the way Rohit was hammering
27:13Mischel Stark.
27:14I can tell you, I can give it to you directly.
27:17Credit goes to the BCCI and the selectors for having made that call and picked these two players.
27:22BCCI President, Roger Binny.
27:24Yeah, and credit goes to them.
27:26And, but, you know, like, in the case, for the 2016-20 World Cup, you know, recently,
27:32we've announced a team for the Zimbabwe tour.
27:35Even there, look at the wealth of talent available to India.
27:38I mean, you've got...
27:40You've picked four openers.
27:42Only two of them can play.
27:43And then you've got Rian Parag.
27:45Nitish Reddy has got injured.
27:47But Nitish Reddy will get his chance sooner or later.
27:49You've got so many fast bowlers.
27:51So, there is a...
27:52You have two players for every position in India today.
27:56So, there is no shortage of talent.
27:59Whereas, what you're talking about...
27:59Last year, why am I saying it?
28:01Because last year, I remember, 2020-23, we were in the West Indies, right?
28:09Abhinash, you remember?
28:11And Virat didn't play.
28:12Rohit didn't play.
28:14I've never been sort of advocating the fact that they should play T20.
28:19They didn't play.
28:20We lost the T20 series to West Indies under Hardik Pandya's captaincy.
28:26And the selectors, you know, I mean, thought Rohit should continue as T20 captain.
28:31Because Hardik probably was in and out of the side because of injury.
28:35Just wondering how to do it.
28:36Because if you don't give opportunity to youngsters,
28:39how will they gain experience like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli?
28:41That is also there.
28:42Exactly.
28:43You should give out a couple of yours.
28:45You should give a couple of yours to prepare.
28:48No, very honestly, Indranil, I did not...
28:51I really, really did not see this campaign coming.
28:55I am surprised.
28:57I wasn't so surprised about...
29:00The 2023 World Cup did not surprise me.
29:02But this campaign definitely has the way Rohit Sharma has played.
29:07Virat, yeah, I think there is one beginning waiting for him in the final.
29:12So many of the others, Hardik, Kuldeep Yadav,
29:15they have definitely played well above.
29:17And especially India won the favourites entering this tournament.
29:21But again, the 2026 World Cup,
29:27it starts with the Zimbabwe tour after this series.
29:30We don't want to discuss that series now.
29:32But that's an important tour.
29:33We need to start.
29:34And there is a huge depth of time.
29:36One, two and three.
29:38There are more than enough players in India.
29:40Traffic is heavy out there at the top.
29:43So we have to see how we distribute,
29:45how we sort of make passage to all these traffic, heavy traffic.
29:51But Delhi is a huge water logging.
29:54I hope the traffic is smooth there.
29:57That's important.
29:59Mr. Avinash is sitting in the tranquil existence of Panchkula,
30:04surrounded with trees and chopped mountains and God knows what,
30:08for making wider highways and God knows what.
30:11But Avinash, you must be a proud Indian today
30:17because the way Indians have really carried themselves one last hurdle
30:21and people are saying shut the shop for today.
30:26If you beat England, the cup is ours.
30:29That's what the sentiment is.
30:30Do you agree?
30:32See, it is in a way, in a sense,
30:35it's definitely true that you've beaten both the defending champions
30:40of the ODI and the T20I format.
30:43And let's not forget the fact that in the 2021 World Cup,
30:46T20 World Cup, Australia was the champion.
30:48We've defeated three world champions in a space of three days.
30:53So that's a commendable achievement.
30:56But we've seen this in a team doing this
31:00and the kind of a campaign that we've had in this tournament,
31:05we can definitely now speak with conviction
31:11that it just kept raising the bar with every passing game.
31:16It looked a completely different side in the US
31:19when we started our campaign against Ireland.
31:23It was a, I mean, a lopsided contest,
31:26the kind of contest we put up against,
31:29the fight that we put up against Pakistan
31:32gave us the belief that,
31:34even if there are 120 audience on the board,
31:36we are going to defend it.
31:39And then there was a hiccup
31:43which came our way from the US side.
31:46Gatting once again saw a collapse,
31:50but Shivam Dubey and Suri Kumar Yadav doing the job.
31:55But the moment, everybody knew,
32:00in our mind, at the back of our mind,
32:02there was a feeling that the moment
32:04this Indian team arrives in the Caribbean islands,
32:08it's going to be a really strong side
32:13because the pitches there will definitely aid the spinners.
32:16And once the Indian spinners will come to party,
32:19they will not give the opposition many leeways.
32:25And that's what we've seen against the Aussies
32:28and the Afghanis and the Bangladeshis.
32:32Good to see the Indian spin department
32:35rising to the occasion.
32:37And of course, there will be a battle between the Pacers
32:42because South African Pacers have also done well.
32:45But the Indian bowling,
32:49if you just compare between these two teams,
32:53our bowling spin department looks much more strong.
32:58Yeah, point taken.
32:59And that's what we say, bowlers winning a tournament.
33:04The way Indian bowlers have come to the party,
33:07they've been really consistent
33:08and probably the best bowling side.
33:10And so we're banking on them rather than on the batsmen.
33:13Batsmen have done their bit.
33:14They've got their numbers.
33:15Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma doing well.
33:16Hopefully, they'll do well in the final.
33:19Virat Kohli, for instance, will do well.
33:20We want to see Shivam Dubey coming good
33:24because he's gotten the team in place of Rinku Singh
33:27who's waiting in the wings.
33:28And he must be really very hungry deep down inside.
33:33But this is a good sign for Indian cricket in days to come.
33:37We're playing the final.
33:38We'll be back again.
33:39Keep enjoying pitch battle.
33:40Thanks, Shakya and Avinash for coming
33:43and sharing your thoughts.
33:46We'll be back soon.
33:47And keep enjoying cricket.
33:48Thanks for watching.
33:50Thank you.