The most compelling genesis stories all begin with a severe trauma. The story of England’s recovery from their humiliation in Adelaide during the 2015 ODI World Cup is widely known against India. It involved a willingness to take risks, a willingness to let go of inhibitions, faith in a new generation led by a few wise old heads, and the achievement of rewards that were almost unimaginable during the old mindset’s dominance, including the concurrent 50-and 20-over World Cups.
Who knows where England’s story line will end up? It’s certainly not what it was during their shoddy 50-over defense against India last year, nor during their cautious Caribbean tour, which has been mostly driven by their harsh treatment of Associate opponents.
What is certain, though, is that India’s nadir and England’s arc collided in Adelaide in November 2022 as they traveled to win their second world title. Similar to 2015, following the ten-wicket thumping in the T20 World Cup semi-final, there was a sense that the squad was so engrossed in its home-soil supremacy that it had forgotten to account for foreign circumstances. It was clear that something needed to change immediately, and judging by India’s unwavering (albeit unrewarded) response, it has.

This, however, is a tantalizing taste test of India’s new techniques. Their ten-year run of success in ICC tournaments seemed inescapable at some point, but then again, they likely thought it was already ended after coasting to the 50-over final in Ahmedabad last year. Even while Ben Stokes’ experience in Kolkata in 2016 played a significant role in England’s success afterward, the agony of that defeat by Australia undoubtedly strengthened India’s determination as they prepare to face another international competition. In a knockout situation, nobody should anticipate an easy ride, especially if the pursuit of win has taken over the means of getting there.
However, England has recently been overcome with a very different feeling. Their years of white-ball bottom-feeding had not made the fear of failure a particularly familiar bedfellow, but with so much silverware at stake, they appeared immobilized by anxiety during the 50-over World Cup and again in their meaningless group-stage defeat to the now-absent Australians in Barbados.
Australia has made a living off of proving that experience with the particular pressures of knockout competitions counts for anything. However, a strong urge to validate a long-standing argument also exists. One position will have to give way, assuming the rain keeps away. Whatever happens, it promises to be a captivating story.
Form guide
India WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
England WLWWW
In the spotlight – Rohit, Buttler, Rashid, Kuldeep
The impact of the two leaders, who are both opening batsmen and legendary figures in their own right and who have found a vein of form that might determine their team’s future, cannot be understated in a match with this much at stake.
In his crushing of Australia in St Lucia, Rohit Sharma did just that. He literally threw caution to the wind in his well-planned attack on Mitchell Starc, plunging headlong into his daily tasks in the unrestrained style that has been his hallmark since that infamously reserved performance in Adelaide in 2022. The most significant legacy Rohit will leave as captain may possibly turn out to be his deliberate shattering of India’s milestone-oriented template, particularly if he manages to win the trophy that has evaded his nation since the man was a rookie in 2007.
While Jos Buttler hasn’t given up on his ability to establish himself in any given innings—and his partnership with Phil Salt greatly aids in this regard—his devastating 83 from 38 balls against the USA was the kind of range-hitting performance that his England teams have become accustomed to producing in the nets. Perhaps more than any other modern great, Buttler is a mood player; when things don’t go according to plan, as they often do when it comes to the World Cup, he can descend into profound reflection, but when his head is in the right place, he can achieve incredible heights. It seems as though the possibility of winning back-to-back T20 crowns is motivating him at the moment. He is two games away from doing so.

But two wristspinners in total control of their individual games will stand in the path of both men and their teams. After beginning the 2022 T20 World Cup a little tentatively in the group stage, Adil Rashid emerged as England’s main bowler in the knockout stages, returning a combined analysis of 3 for 42 in eight overs against India and Pakistan. He has since developed into the tournament with an impeccable command of flight, pace, and variation, with his googly rarely missing its mark.