England will need to neutralize Indian batting threats Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli when the sides meet in the second semi-final of the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup at the Adelaide Oval Thursday.
The top-ranked Indian team are benefitting greatly from the in-form Suryakumar's batting exploits in the world event.
The right-handed middle-order batsman has been in blazing form and has so far scored three half-centuries in the competition.
With 225 runs in five games at an average of 75 and strike rate of 193.96, Suryakumar is at No 3 in the list of most runs scored.
Swashbuckling Suryakumar was key in making India finish top in Group 2.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes while speaking to the media in Adelaide in the sidelines of a training session hoped they will be able to keep Suryakumar down.
“Suryakumar obviously came in and set the world alight. He is a fantastic player and plays some shots where you sort of just scratch the head sometimes. He is in great form, but hopefully we can try and shut him down and not allow him to get on one of his rampages,” said Stokes.
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Kohli on the other hand is at the top of the list with 246 runs in five games with an average of 123 and strike rate of 138.98.
The right-handed batting King has overcame a poor run of form with the willow to hit his first international century after 1,021 days at the Asia Cup in September and shut down his critics.
“I think with Virat he could have four unbelievable years like he had and then have a not-so-loud couple of months and then for some reason plays like that and gets written off, we have got no idea why. I think he has earned the right to never be written off,” said Stokes.
Stokes was England's key weapon in crunch situations and had guided the Three Lions to the 50-over World Cup title in 2019.
The left-handed batter cum medium fast bowler hoped he will be able to contribute now that the world event of the shortest format of cricket hits the business end.
“We have got two more games to go hopefully...and hopefully lift the trophy in the end,” said Stokes.
“But we know we need to get this game done (Thursday) against a very strong Indian team which no one will ever take lightly because the team they are and the players that they have in their squad,” the England all-rounder added.
