ICC CWC 2019 highlights: England end in Ind winning streak, win by 31 runs

England cricket team survived to live for another day as they outbatted India cricket team for a 31-run win in a high-scoring World Cup encounter, keeping their semi-final hopes alive

2:20 PM

India playing 11 ALERT: Rishabh Pant may get a chance today

According to various media reports, Rishabh Pant may get a place in India playing 11.

2:18 PM

India record at Edgbaston

India have won 3 out of 4 matches with success rate of 75 per cent. India have a 100% win recorf in the last 5 games against all countries in Edgbaston

2:16 PM

WATCH: Jofra Archer looks fit

2:15 PM

WATCH: Hardik Pandya during warm-up ahead of today's match

2:12 PM

Kohli on middle order failure

Kohli also brushed aside India's middle order worry, saying there will always be talks as they have a strong top order.

"Look, that discussion is always going to go on because we've had such a strong top order that these guys have hardly had a chance to bat. When they bat, out of four times, if once or twice it doesn't come off, then we feel like, 'it's not a strong middle-order', but we overlook the times that it has come good," the skipper said.

"If you look at the first three games that we played, the contribution was absolutely fine. We were getting 300 plus, and no one said anything. Then after one game where we could not accelerate as much, everyone said that maybe it's not as strong," he said.

2:03 PM

Key batsman for Team India

Virat Kohli

India skipper Virat Kohli atop the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings and is displaying a magnificent form in this edition of the quadrennial tournament. Kohli has smashed four consecutive half-centuries and has amassed 316 runs until now. Apart from his batting abilities, it is his captaincy which invigorated the Indian side in this World Cup.
 

2:03 PM

WATCH: Virat Kohli on India's new jersey

1:56 PM

Why this Match matters

For India: India is just a win away from the semis. Even a single point from a tie of a wash-out would suffice.

 

For England: A loss would leave captain Morgan and company precariously perched. A semifinal spot would then depend on the outcomes of other games.

 

1:50 PM

Kohli backs Dhoni, Shankar ahead of England game

Backing the under-fire Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India skipper Virat Kohli on Saturday said that the veteran stumper-batsman was someone who didn't need to be told what to do. Kohli also put his weight behind all-rounder Vijay Shankar on the eve of the high-voltage World Cup group stage clash against hosts England.

"He (Dhoni) had a decent game against Pakistan. Against Afghanistan on that pitch, he looked really assured. We had discussed shot selection with him for that game. In the last game again, he came out and looked really good," Kohli said during the pre-match presser.

Shankar, who is currently occupying the much-debated number four slot, has failed to cash in on the opportunity with scores of 29 against Afghanistan and 14 versus the West Indies. Batting at number six against arch-rivals Pakistan, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder remained not out on 15.

Although India, the only unbeaten side in the World Cup so far, won all the three matches, there have been calls to remove Shankar with the competition entering its business end.

"So you can't really sit down and pinpoint things. But I personally felt that he (Shankar) looked really solid. There's not much that needs to be tinkered with. Sometimes in cricket you just need a bit of luck to get over from 30 to 60, and then you play a defining knock for the team.

"He's very close to that, and we're very confident that he's going to end up playing that kind of knock for us," said Kohli, echoing former England batsman Kevin Pietersen who had said in a tweet that India should stick to Shankar as a big knock was just around the corner.

On Dhoni's slow strike-rate in the previous two matches, Kohli said: "I don't think that he has ever been a cricketer who needs to be told what exactly he needs to do.

"What we experience and what we know inside the changing room is the most important thing for us, and we have total belief in him (Dhoni). He stood up for the team many times, especially if you look at this calendar year and the kind of performances he's given. I don't think it's fair to point out one or two performances as anyone can falter with the bat."

1:44 PM

In pics: The strip that matters in today's match

1:40 PM

Srikkanth on Vijay Shankar at number 4 spot

Vijay Shankar, who has been playing at number four spot has failed to score big runs for the team. He has gotten starts but he has not been able to convert them into big scores. Srikkanth said that the team management needs to decide whom to play at number four.

"The Indian management would know best what to do with the number four batsman. they might try Rishabh Pant, Jadeja or Karthik can be also tried. You have to look at the team in totality, everyone is performing well," Srikkanth said.

1:39 PM

India-England match will be best game of CWC 2019, says K Srikkanth

As India and England get ready to lock horns in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth said that the match between these two countries will be the best contest in this World Cup.

He even called the Men in Blue as clear favourites for this contest as the team has been performing well as a collective unit.

"I think today's match will be the best game of the tournament. I still believe that India are the favourites in the World Cup. India are playing exceptionally well as a team. India psychologically are the hardcore favourites for tomorrow's match," Srikkanth told ANI.

Srikkanth defended wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni over his slow strike-rate. He said that the batsman silenced his critics in the team's last match against West Indies.

Dhoni has been criticised over the past few days over his slow strike-rate during the middle overs period. He came under severe criticism over his slow innings during the Afghanistan match. In the match against West Indies, Dhoni took his time, but he was able to capitalise in the final over of the innings.

"Dhoni silenced his critics in the team's match against West Indies. What more you want? From a cricketing angle, you want a good partnership, Dhoni has done that in the India-West Indies match," Srikkanth said.

1:38 PM

WATCH: Virat Kohli on game pressure

1:36 PM

India have emerged as the team to beat at World Cup: Lloyd

West Indies great Clive Lloyd feels a "very well-balanced" India have emerged as the team to beat in the ongoing ICC World Cup.

Virat Kohli's side is unbeaten after its first six matches of the round-robin competition and need just a win from their remaining three games to guarantee a place in the semi-finals.

"I have been impressed by India -- I think the winner of the whole thing is going to be one of them or Australia," Lloyd said in a column for the ICC.

"Any team that wants to lift the trophy will have to beat India -- they are unbeaten so far and look a very well-balanced side."

India thrashed West Indies by 125 runs on Thursday to end the Caribbean side's hopes of qualifying from the 10-team group stage.

The former skipper lavished rich praise on India's bowling attack.

"Jasprit Bumrah is a fantastic discovery but behind him guys like Mohammed Shami and the wrist spinners have been really impressive," he said.

"What I like about their attack, as opposed to many in this tournament, is that they bowl to take wickets."

The 74-year-old though added India can be beaten if the opposition can get through their middle-order.

"Make early inroads into their batting line-up -- where they only have five specialist batsmen -- and you have a chance," he said.

"Of course, a lot of that depends on getting rid of Virat Kohli, the best batsman in the tournament."

1:28 PM

Morgan on flat decks in ICC CWC 2019

Asked about the flat decks, Morgan said: "As regards to conditions, they are what they are. We can't control them. It's not a talking point for us. It's a matter of us being better at adapting to conditions.