England have pledged to go into Thursday’s T20 World Cup semi-final against India with no fear, with Sam Curran describing the fixture as “a dream” and “a brilliant opportunity” about which they are feeling “hugely confident”.
Despite facing a daunting challenge against a strong Indian side on a ground where England suffered their worst T20 defeat earlier this year, Curran insists the team are unfazed. “These games are what we dream of. It's such a cool experience. It's kind of, how exciting to play India in the semi-final,” he said.
The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai has been a high-scoring venue in the Indian Premier League, with an average of 9.89 runs per over in recent seasons. India boast players like Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah, who have exceptional records there. However, Curran expects the pitch to favour seamers this time, saying, “I’d be very surprised if it’s a low-scoring, turning pitch... I expect a really high-scoring game.”
England have not produced a completely dominant performance yet but have won games from difficult positions. Coach Brendon McCullum and captain Harry Brook have kept the group calm and positive. Curran added, “Baz and Brooky are very positive people and they’re just keeping the group nice and calm.”
The team are prepared for a hostile crowd, but Curran views it as an opportunity. “If the crowd are silent, England are probably going to be doing well. That’s our positive way of looking at it,” he said. “We’ve played so much cricket in India... you just get so used to it you can block it out.”
With both sides knowing each other’s strengths, Curran believes the match will come down to who handles the occasion best. “It’s one of those nights where you go out and give it everything and hope that it’s enough,” he concluded.
