Sam Curran said England will approach their T20 World Cup semi-final against India without fear, stressing that their immediate aim will be to quieten a passionate home crowd in Mumbai.
England face tournament hosts and favourites India on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium, where around 35,000 vocal supporters are expected to create an intense atmosphere. A place in the final against either South Africa or New Zealand is at stake.
Despite the daunting setting, Curran expressed confidence, noting that several England players, including Will Jacks who represents the Mumbai Indians, have extensive experience in the Indian Premier League.
“For any young cricketer, playing India in a World Cup semi-final is the kind of occasion you dream about,” said the left-arm seamer.
Curran, who spent time out of the international setup last year, earned his recall through strong performances in franchise tournaments, particularly the IPL. He said that familiarity with Indian conditions gives England an advantage.
“India are a top-quality side, but we’ve played a lot of cricket here. We understand the grounds and the conditions, so there aren’t many surprises,” he said, adding that the IPL experience has been invaluable.
England have already encountered a charged atmosphere at the Wankhede earlier in the tournament, when they edged Nepal in a last-ball thriller. Curran delivered the decisive final over in that match, conceding just five runs when 10 were required, preventing a shock defeat. He later repeated his composure at the death against Italy.
With the bat, Curran has also made key contributions from number six, amassing 149 runs so far, including an unbeaten 43.
He said England would measure their success by the reaction of the crowd. “If the stadium goes quiet, it probably means we’re doing something right. That’s how we’re looking at it in a positive way,” he added.
This marks the third consecutive T20 World Cup in which England and India have met in the semi-finals. On both previous occasions, the winner went on to claim the title.
In 2022, England defeated India by 10 wickets in Adelaide before overcoming Pakistan in the final in Melbourne. Two years later, India secured a commanding 68-run win in Guyana and then beat South Africa in the final in Barbados.
South Africa will take on New Zealand in the first semi-final on Wednesday, while the tournament final is scheduled for Sunday in Ahmedabad.
Curran said the past month of competition had been building toward this stage. “Hopefully, we can take one more step and make it to the final,” he said.
