Subhechcha Ganguly 
Prior to India’s World Cup match against England, there is another thing that could make skipper Rohit Sharma nervous besides Hardik Pandya’s absence.One of the most anticipated matches was the one between India and England when the World Cup schedule for 2023 was revealed. It was going to be a delicious fight. In white-ball cricket, it has been for a while. Every India-England game attracts attention. On Sunday, when these two sides meet in Lucknow, the story might be different.
In this competition, England has lost four of its five games, and their net run rate is just slightly higher than the Netherlands’. They cannot go to the next round without a miracle. And that miracle needs to begin with their upcoming game against the league leaders, who are the only unbeaten team in the competition so far with five straight victories.The performance of the defending champions England has been so dismal that it was clear they would lose each of their games against New Zealand, Afghanistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka during the first powerplay of the second innings. India, meanwhile, has taken the complete opposite action. In nearly every one of their encounters, their victory appeared certain by the halfway point.
The primary players responsible for India’s success in this World Cup thus far are captain Rohit Sharma, quick bowler Jasprit Bumrah, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and talisman Virat Kohli. Right at the top of the order, Rohit has been flawless. The opposition bowlers now fear him because of the way he has gone for the new ball. His leadership has also been excellent. He has always been one step ahead of the game and has never let it wander.The presence of two all-rounders, Jadeja and Hardik Pandya, eased Rohit’s workload. The England game will not see the latter available. The date of his return has not yet been confirmed.
“Hardik is a huge loss, as he’s the essential player that gives Team India and Rohit their balance, let’s face it. But, I personally want a bowler in there who can bowl 10 overs because I don’t see Shardul bowling 10 overs match to match because it will be tough. Therefore, I will be seeking to play a bowler, whether it be Shami or Ashwin. That’s why having Hardik behind him was comforting, but now that he’s not, I’ll go with a bowler,” Badrinath remarked.Indian fans may also find the middle order’s structure to be intriguing.
