Hours before stepping into a high-pressure T20 World Cup semifinal against England, members of the Indian team sought divine intervention at Mumbai’s iconic Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple on Wednesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In a video that quickly went viral on social media, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma were seen offering prayers and taking darshan at the revered temple, a day before India’s knockout clash at the Wankhede Stadium.WATCH:The spiritual visit comes at a crucial juncture for India, who have not exactly cruised into the semifinals. Overwhelming favourites at the start of the tournament, they have struggled to piece together a flawless performance against stronger opponents. However, the side showed resilience after a heavy defeat to South Africa in their Super 8 opener.The reintroduction of Sanju Samson proved a masterstroke. More than a decade after his India debut, the 31-year-old delivered a career-defining unbeaten 97 in a virtual quarterfinal against West Indies, reigniting India’s campaign. His confidence will be key, especially for opening partner Abhishek Sharma, who is still searching for his explosive best despite a Super 8 fifty against Zimbabwe.
England, riding on five straight wins, will pose a stern test. Jofra Archer’s pace, Will Jacks’ off-spin in the powerplay and Adil Rashid’s middle-overs craft could challenge India’s top order. Harry Brook and Sam Curran have been pivotal for England, while questions remain over Jos Buttler’s form heading into the big clash.India’s core group, including Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma, put in extended hours at training earlier this week. With spin twins Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy expected to play a major role on a potentially tricky surface, execution will be crucial.
