England Test captain Ben Stokes has his say on England's T20 World Cup 2024 exit following their agonizing defeat against India in the semifinal. While acknowledging the devastation felt by skipper Jos Buttler and the team, Stokes also highlighted the positive aspects of reaching the final four.
England reflect on T20 World Cup exit
The loss marked a bitter end for England's title defense. Their overall performance fell short of expectations, with both batting and bowling failing to click at crucial moments. England's bowlers started brightly, claiming early Indian wickets. However, they were unable to sustain the pressure, allowing Rohit Sharma (57) and Suryakumar Yadav (47) to build a strong partnership that shifted momentum in India's favor. India set a competitive total of 171 runs.
Chasing a challenging target, England's batting woes continued. Despite an aggressive start from skipper Jos Buttler (23), their batting line-up crumbled after his dismissal. The team ultimately fell well short, succumbing to a convincing defeat.
England's batting crumbles under spin pressure
England's hopes of chasing down the target were dashed as their batting line-up faltered against India's spin attack. Wickets fell in quick succession, with both Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav proving unplayable. The duo shared six wickets between them, restricting England to a meager 103 runs. This dominant bowling performance secured a convincing 68-run victory for India and booked their place in the T20 World Cup final.
Ben Stokes reacts to England's T20 World Cup departure
Despite the disappointing end, England Test captain Ben Stokes acknowledged the team's struggles on the road to the semi-final. He highlighted the challenges they faced, including dealing with weather disruptions, external criticism, and the pressure of a title defense.
"Devastated for Jos, Motty and everyone involved out there, all the players and staff because you know, it wasn't an easy road for them to get to the semi-final. There was obviously, you know, like a little bit to do with the weather could have affected us and you know, a little bit of unwarranted criticism, which you always seem to get being an English team for some reason," Stokes told Sky Sports.
While disappointed with the outcome, Ben Stokes remained gracious in defeat. He commended his team for reaching the T20 World Cup semi-final, acknowledging it as a significant achievement. However, he also recognized India's superior performance on the day, crediting them for their dominant display.
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"Got up with football at the moment, but they're through to the knockouts as well, aren't they? Yeah, god. But look, it got through to another major, you know, tournament semi-final, which is no mean feat, you know, some seriously good teams out there, but you've got to give credit to India the way that they played in a big game," he added.
The T20 World Cup 2024 is set for a thrilling finale. India and South Africa will lock horns in a highly-anticipated title clash on June 29 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Both teams are hungry for victory, with India aiming to end their ICC trophy drought and South Africa seeking their first-ever World Cup title in any format.
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