- By Namrata Vijay
- Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:26 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
T20 World Cup 2026: Michael Atherton, ex-England captain, believes that while India are seen as favorites for the ongoing T20 World Cup, they are not invincible. India will meet England in the second semifinal in Mumbai on Thursday.
This marks the third straight semifinal between the two teams, following their meetings in 2022 and 2024.
Atherton, speaking on the Sky Cricket Podcast, acknowledged India as an exceptional team but stressed their vulnerabilities, notably in bowling depth and the absence of backup options under pressure.
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He also revealed that many Indian batters haven't yet lived up to expectations.
Atherton stated India can be challenged if opponents target their main bowlers, as they lack a spare option. He also noted that not all Indian batters have performed at their best.
He emphasized that England must play at their highest level to overcome India's strengths and exploit their weaknesses.
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England's road to the semifinal has been decent, even though their star opening duo of Jos Buttler and Phil Salt have failed to fire with the bat. They have scored 200 runs together, with Salt having smashed just one fifty so far. Buttler has scored just 62 runs after playing in seven matches.
“Everybody said before this tournament that if England are going to win it, then a big part of it will be the Salt-Buttler partnership, but neither has really got going," he added.
“They will take confidence from winning without that main bit of their team functioning, and they are getting better", he said.
Atherton also questioned the England team of this edition and asked whether they can find another level during the decisive stages of the ongoing mega event.
He lauded the Men in Blue's run chase in their last Super 8s match against the West Indies, where they qualified for the semifinal and made a bold prediction that the summit clash would be a repeat of the 2024 edition between India and South Africa.
He concluded by predicting an India vs South Africa final, highlighting his view that India remains the favorite despite their flaws.