Having entertained and delighted their vast legion of fans across the length and the breadth of the country, India’s superstars will aim for a repeat on Sunday against a team that, defying all predictions, has embarked on an inexorable tailspin.

England arrived for the World Cup as the defending champions, boasting exceptional batting firepower and tremendous all-round balance. Under Jos Buttler, they had surged to the T20 World Cup title in Australia last year and were expected to steamroll most oppositions. But in a dramatic turnaround, they have been reduced to also-rans, destroyed and decimated in succession by New Zealand, Afghanistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka.