Karthik and Atherton also picked their T20 World Cup finalists.
Former cricketers Dinesh Karthik and Michael Atherton discussed the upcoming semi-final between India and England of the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be played on March 5 in Mumbai.
Atherton stated that the current Indian team under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav looks vulnerable, and the frailties can cost them in the semis against England.
India advanced to the semi-finals after defeating West Indies in a must-win Super 8 match at Eden Gardens, but they have not appeared convincing or comfortable throughout the competition.
India's victories over the United States, Namibia, and the Netherlands highlighted their vulnerability against slower balls and cutters, while South Africa's defeat challenged their resolve. They advanced to the semi-finals with victories over Zimbabwe and the West Indies, but the air of invincibility that they possessed in bilaterals is undoubtedly lacking.
Former batter Atherton said that the Three Lions could beat India if they play at their best, as the hosts look “beatable.”
“I guess England will take confidence from the fact that they are winning without the main bit of the team (openers Jos Buttler and Phil Salt), partnership working. I don’t think they have played their game. I have asked myself this question: Is this tournament going to be equated to the 2022 World Cup, where, coming to the crunch time, they just got better and better? If you remember, they started that World Cup by losing to Ireland in Melbourne, and then they wiped out India by 10 wickets and won the final.
I don’t know the answer. From what I have seen, India is beatable. They are an exceptional side. But they are not unbeatable. Some of the batters have not found their best. England has to be their best to beat India,” Atherton said on the Sky Cricket podcast.
Dinesh Karthik was quick to point out that the poor record of two of their most important players in the T20 format, Varun Chakaravarthy and Abhishek Sharma, has contributed significantly to India's appearance as "vulnerable" in the competition.
“There were three players before the World Cup that India could not drop. At the top, it was Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, and obviously, the impact that Abhishek Sharma had. Two of those three players have not had a good World Cup, which is why India looks vulnerable at the moment,” Karthik stated.
Karthik said that due to the lack of dew, a toss would provide just a slight advantage to the team batting second.
“It’s hard playing in Mumbai right now. It’s 55-45 for the team that wins the toss in Mumbai as compared to 70-30 in Kolkata,” Karthik added.
Karthik stated that India should conserve Bumrah for later to counter the Harry Brook threat, while Nasser Hussain suggested that Chakaravarthy would be a favorable match-up against the England captain.
“I will introduce him (Bumrah) later. I think the bigger wicket now is Harry Brook, and I will keep Bumrah for that,” Karthik said about the star pacer before Nasser Hussain added that "I will keep Chakaravarthy for Harry Brook.”
Karthik said that both Bumrah and Chakaravarthy will be solid alternatives against Brook, and India may utilize Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh in the powerplay to counter England openers Buttler and Salt.
“Bumrah and Chakaravarthy bowling in tandem to Brook will be a good match-up. You need to knock him over early; he can change the game on his own. Buttler and Salt, I believe Hardik (Pandya) and Arshdeep will be a good matchup.
Buttler had his fair share of trouble against Arshdeep. But he has overcome it in recent years. But it will be interesting. Hardik is known for taking wickets in powerplay, but interestingly, he has taken only one wicket in powerplay in this World Cup. Even if he has got the ball to swing, which he did in Mumbai, it’s in the backend that he has picked up wickets. But I will still have Hardik and Arshdeep upfront against Buttler and Salt,” Karthik added.
At the end, Dinesh Karthik and Mike Atherton were asked to guess who would win the semi-finals, and both former legends chose India and South Africa.
DK said: “India and South Africa for me.” Michael Atherton added: “That would be my instinct as well, a replay of the last final.”, "India
(Sky Cricket inputs)