How can England get Sanju Samson’s wicket? Nick Knight predicts: ‘They bowled the short ball to him a lot recently…’ India will face England in the second semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. Sanju Samson has entered the match in good form after scoring a rapid 97 off 50 balls against the West Indies in their final Super 8 game. Former England cricketer and commentator Nick Knight offers insights into England’s strategy against Samson, Harry Brook’s leadership, and the roles of Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer. The match will be shaped by India’s powerful batting lineup and the challenges of playing at Wankhede. Knight highlights the importance of the Powerplay phase, where Jofra Archer will face key Indian batters like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan. He notes that India’s middle order has shown composure when the top order starts strongly, but struggles when the opening batsmen fail to set the tone. Archer’s performance will be critical, as he learned a lesson from a previous match against Abhishek Sharma, where he bowled too short. Knight predicts Archer will vary his lengths and paces more effectively this time. Regarding Samson, Knight suggests England may continue targeting him with short deliveries, but Samson’s improved rhythm and trigger movements could make this strategy less effective. He also notes that England’s quicks have adapted by varying their lengths and paces throughout the tournament. Varun Chakravarthy’s match against England poses a challenge for India. Knight believes Chakravarthy should be deployed early, especially when Harry Brook is at the crease. However, Chakravarthy’s reliance on googlies has become predictable, and he may need to add more variety to his bowling. Despite this, Knight acknowledges Chakravarthy’s skill as a high-class bowler.#sanju_samson #abhishek_sharma #harry_brook #nick_knight #jofra_archer
