Georgetown (Guyana), India's approach with the bat is now drastically different from that of the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final and both teams will begin Thursday's competition on an even keel, England head coach Matthew Mott said on Wednesday .
England had annihilated India by 10 wickets in the semi-final in Adelaide two years ago before winning the trophy. India was criticized for its conservative approach back then, but now plays according to the demands of the shortest format.
"Probably the only thing we've discussed is that we feel like they're a very different team than that semi-final. The way they've approached it in recent years is certainly taking the game extremely hard." on the power play," Mott said on the eve of the game.
"Rohit (Sharma) with the bat has led the way extremely well and has shown leadership in that department, as has Jos Buttler for us. But I think he presents a really unique challenge for us. "It's a place we don't know well.
"Obviously we've been armed with a lot of information and we think we have a team to cover it, but there's a little bit of an unknown about what we're going to get," he said.
After the disastrous run in the ODI World Cup in India last year, England have something to prove despite being defending champions in the current edition.
Asked further about India's change of approach, Mott said: "When we went back to that semi-final, obviously on a good pitch in Adelaide, we put India on and that was a risk. But I thought we felt they weren't safe." what a good score it was.
"I think the approach now is that they would attack hard and try to maximize that, maybe try to put it out of our reach. You have two great batting line-ups. The bowlers have class too. So, it will all come down to the day ".
India, however, have failed to win an ICC trophy in over 10 years and are very eager to end that title drought here. Mott highlighted India's remarkable consistency in reaching the knockout matches.
"What India has done incredibly well in the last few years is reaching the semi-finals and the other side of the coin is that when you don't win, people see it as a negative thing.
"But I think the consistency they've shown for so long shows what a great group of players they are.
"And like anyone, when you get to the semi-final stage, every team, and all four teams here, think they have a chance to win it. And there are small margins. So if you take those key factors, moments at the right time, you pass the line, if you don't do it, you go home.
"So our tournament really starts tomorrow, we're excited, we know their players well and they know us well," Mott said.
England have not had the best run of form in the competition, but Mott said that is all in the past.
"There's a general feeling that our best cricket is in front of us. "I think we've been pretty good at times, we've done some really good things here, but we haven't put together that perfect game.
"So hopefully that will happen against India. It will definitely be a big occasion," the head coach added.
England had annihilated India by 10 wickets in the semi-final in Adelaide two years ago before winning the trophy. India was criticized for its conservative approach back then, but now plays according to the demands of the shortest format.
"Probably the only thing we've discussed is that we feel like they're a very different team than that semi-final. The way they've approached it in recent years is certainly taking the game extremely hard." on the power play," Mott said on the eve of the game.
"Rohit (Sharma) with the bat has led the way extremely well and has shown leadership in that department, as has Jos Buttler for us. But I think he presents a really unique challenge for us. "It's a place we don't know well.
"Obviously we've been armed with a lot of information and we think we have a team to cover it, but there's a little bit of an unknown about what we're going to get," he said.
After the disastrous run in the ODI World Cup in India last year, England have something to prove despite being defending champions in the current edition.
Asked further about India's change of approach, Mott said: "When we went back to that semi-final, obviously on a good pitch in Adelaide, we put India on and that was a risk. But I thought we felt they weren't safe." what a good score it was.
"I think the approach now is that they would attack hard and try to maximize that, maybe try to put it out of our reach. You have two great batting line-ups. The bowlers have class too. So, it will all come down to the day ".
India, however, have failed to win an ICC trophy in over 10 years and are very eager to end that title drought here. Mott highlighted India's remarkable consistency in reaching the knockout matches.
"What India has done incredibly well in the last few years is reaching the semi-finals and the other side of the coin is that when you don't win, people see it as a negative thing.
"But I think the consistency they've shown for so long shows what a great group of players they are.
"And like anyone, when you get to the semi-final stage, every team, and all four teams here, think they have a chance to win it. And there are small margins. So if you take those key factors, moments at the right time, you pass the line, if you don't do it, you go home.
"So our tournament really starts tomorrow, we're excited, we know their players well and they know us well," Mott said.
England have not had the best run of form in the competition, but Mott said that is all in the past.
"There's a general feeling that our best cricket is in front of us. "I think we've been pretty good at times, we've done some really good things here, but we haven't put together that perfect game.
"So hopefully that will happen against India. It will definitely be a big occasion," the head coach added.
