India vs England highlights, T20 World Cup Semi-Final 2026: India beat England by 7 runs, set up T20 World Cup final with New Zealand

SIX! Short from Sam Curran. Sanju Samson pulls this over deep mid wicket fence. A fielder is there. He jumps but the ball is way out of his reach.

SIX! Slot ball from Sam Curran and Ishan Kishan punishes the England allrounder with a biggie over deep mid wicket fence. Superb shot from the left hander.

100 comes up for India

INDIA 100/1 in 8.3 overs vs ENGLAND

Liam Dawson starts his spell but faces immediate punishment from Ishan Kishan. The left-hander reads the line outside off and gets down on one knee to play a powerful slog sweep over deep midwicket for a six. Though not perfectly timed, Kishan muscles the ball over the ropes. India capitalise on the loose bowling as 19 runs come off Dawson’s opening over, keeping the scoring rate high.

FIFTY! Sanju Samson brings up his half century off 26 balls. What a way to bring a half century. He whacks Liam Dawson over long off for a biggie to slam a half ton. He raises his bat to celebrate his half century. Back to back fifty from the wicketkeeper batter.

INDIA 85/1 in 7.4 overs vs ENGLAND

Bowling change for England. Will this work?

Harry Brook brings Adil Rashid into the attack

FOUR! First ball from Rashid and Sanju Samson greets the experinced spinner towards extra cover region for a boundary. Glorious shot from the Indian wicketkepper-batter.

Drinks break:

Runs have flowed freely so far on what appears to be a batting-friendly surface.

England’s bowlers have struggled to maintain consistent lines and lengths, offering far too many loose deliveries, and the Indian batters have made full use of those opportunities.

Except for one over, every other has gone for double-digit runs, highlighting England’s lack of control with the ball in the early phase of the innings.

India make a brisk start in the powerplay despite losing Abhishek Sharma early. Sanju Samson leads the charge with attacking strokes, putting England under pressure from the outset.

Jofra Archer proves expensive, conceding 26 runs in his first two overs. Abhishek’s struggle against off-spin continues as Will Jacks dismisses him for 9 in the second over.

Samson also gets a lifeline after England captain Harry Brook drops a straightforward chance at mid-on when the wicketkeeper-batter is on 15.

INDIA 67/1 at the end of Powerplay

FOUR! FOUR! Nothing seems working for England at the moment. Samson manages to read Curran's tactic early. He punishes him for back-to-back boundaries.

Samson moves to 40 off 10 balls

INDIA 64/1 in 5.4 overs vs ENGLAND

Bowling change for England!

Harry Brook brings Sam Curran into the attack

The partnership between Samson and Ishan is 35 runs at the moment.

FOUR! FOUR! Ishan Kishan joins the party now. He smashes Jamie Overton for back-to-back boundaries. Superb attacking shots from him.

50 comes up for India

India continue to keep the scoreboard moving as 11 runs come off Will Jacks’ over, taking them to 45/1. Sanju Samson stays aggressive, cracking a sharp cut through point for four before rotating the strike.

Ishan Kishan also gets going, opening his account with a single and then pulling a slower delivery behind square on the leg side for a boundary. India maintain the momentum in the powerplay with positive intent from both batters.

INDIA 45/1 in 4 overs vs ENGLAND

FOUR! Width on offer from Will Jacks. Sanju Samson cuts this beautifully through point for a boundary. India are cruising at the moment despite Abhishek Sharma's early blow.

Sanju Samson takes charge with an explosive over against Jofra Archer, collecting 14 runs. He begins with a powerful pull shot for four over midwicket. Archer then beats the bat and even sees a chance go down as Harry Brook drops Samson at mid-on. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter makes England pay immediately, smashing a massive 88m six over deep midwicket before finishing the over with another classy boundary.

India move to 34/1 in 3 overs vs England

DROPPED! Jofra Archer to Sanju Samson. Archer bowls a fuller delivery and Samson looks to play an aerial drive. However, the bat turns in his hand and the ball goes straight towards mid-on. It appears to be a simple catch, but England captain Harry Brook fails to hold on and drops the chance. Samson survives as England miss a regulation opportunity in the field.

WICKET! Will Jacks strikes, Abhishek Sharma falls for 9 runs. Abhishek looks to play an attacking shot but ends up losing his wicket. Will Jacks bowls a slower delivery that drifts into the batter. Abhishek steps down the track and backs away to flick it in the air. The shot comes off the bottom of the bat. Phil Salt runs in from deep midwicket and takes a comfortable catch.

FOUR! A full toss from Will Jacks and Abhishek Sharma come down the track and smashes the ball for a boundary.

FOUR! Harry Brook brings offspinner Will Jacks into the attack. Abhishek Sharma goes deep inside the crease and smashes the ball through backward point for a boundary.

INDIA 16/0 in 1.1 overs vs ENGLAND

SIX! Poor delivery from Jofra Archer. Short from the England pacer and Sansju Samson dispatches this over square leg fence for a biggie. Very very good start from India.

INDIA 10/0 in 0.4 over vs ENGLAND

FOUR! Sanju Samon picks the length and hammers this towards long on. One bounce and a boundary. Superb start from India and Samon.

Samson vs Archer in T20Is

Five innings
23 balls
25 runs
Three dismissals
Avg 8.33
SR 108.69

India openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are making their to the middle

Jofra Archer will open the attack for England

Sanju Samson will face the first ball.

Umpire says 'let's play'

Here we go ... !!!

Both the flags are unfurled.

The players march out in the middle for the national anthems.

England's first, followed by India's Jana Gana Mana.

Electric atmosphere at the Wankhede Stadium.

Most appearances in Men’s T20 WC

47 - Rohit Sharma
43 - Shakib Al Hasan
43 - Jos Buttler
41 - David Warner
38 - Adil Rashid
37 - Mahmudullah

Most appearances in Men’s T20 WC knockouts

8 - Rohit Sharma
7 - Kumar Sangakkara
7 - Mahela Jayawardene
7 - Tillakaratne Dilshan
7 - Lasith Malinga
7 - Angelo Mathews
7 - Jos Buttler
7 - Adil Rashid

India: Unchanged

England: Jamie Overton replaces Rehan Ahmed

England (Playing XI)

Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Harry Brook(c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

India (Playing XI)

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

TOSS:

England captain Harry Brook wins toss and elects to field vs India in the high-stakes semi-final at Wankhede Stadium.

Samson, Suryakumar and teammates start warm-up ahead of crucial semifinal

Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav and other Indian players were seen warming up in the middle ahead of the high-voltage T20 World Cup semifinal clash. The players went through their drills and light practice sessions as they prepared for the crucial encounter.

Toss will take place at 6:30 PM IST

Sanju Samson is in the spotlight as the wicketkeeper-batter walks out to the middle and stands at the striker’s end behind the stumps, closely inspecting the pitch.

Another Samson masterclass loading? He smashed a brilliant 97 not out against West Indies in the must-win Super 8s clash to power India into the semifinals.

What should India do if they win the toss - Bat first or field first?

A flat red-soil pitch at the Wankhede Stadium could level the playing field between India and England rather than giving either side a clear edge in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup semifinal, former wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said.

He added that favourable weather conditions and minimal dew should set up an even contest between the two teams aiming to reach the final, where New Zealand await in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

India hold the edge over England in the shortest format, having won 17 of the 29 T20Is played between the two sides. They also have a slight advantage in T20 World Cups, with three wins from five meetings. The most recent clash saw India hammer England by 150 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in February 2025.

"Yes, when it comes to a flat pitch, it evens out the advantage. I was just looking at the weather and what is going to be the highest in the day to the lowest in the day. The median was what I was calculating as I was getting into this call said 32 and 26, which is not bad and which basically means there won't be too much dew.

“Also, there's always a nice little breeze that blows because we're close to the sea. There will be a little bit of dew, but not to the extent that it will disrupt the play completely in favour of one team. So, overall, I feel it's going to be a good match," Karthik, an ICC expert, told IANS at a JioStar Media Day ahead of the semifinal clash.

Thursday’s semifinal will mark the third successive T20 World Cup meeting between India and England at this stage of the competition. England prevailed by 10 wickets in the semifinal in Adelaide in 2022, while India responded with a 68-run victory in the last-four clash in Guyana in 2024.

Karthik, a member of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team, also backed left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma and wrist spinner Varun Chakaravarthy to thrive at a venue he believes suits both their games. Abhishek, the current top-ranked T20I batter, has endured a tough run, scoring 80 runs in six innings at an average of 13.3.

Chakaravarthy, meanwhile, has taken at least one wicket in 20 consecutive T20Is and has already claimed 12 wickets in the ongoing tournament. However, his returns dipped in the Super Eights, where he conceded at 10.2 runs per over compared to his economy rate of 5.2 in the group stage. He will be eager to bounce back in the semifinal against England, a side he has troubled in the past. His strike rate of 7.7 against them is his best against any opponent in T20Is.

"I feel both of them have personally enjoyed playing in Mumbai for the same reason actually, because I believe Abhishek likes the bounce so that he can go up and over consistently. Whereas Varun, his biggest strength is the fact that he gets that extra bounce and that is available in Mumbai because of the red soil pitch," added Karthik.

One area of concern heading into the high-stakes clash for Suryakumar Yadav-led India is their catching efficiency, which stands at 72 percent — the lowest among the teams remaining in the competition. The issue had surfaced even before the World Cup began, and errors in the semifinal could prove costly.

Karthik acknowledged the problem but urged a measured, root-cause approach rather than panic-driven solutions.

"For a start, making sure the right fielders are in the right places. It's quite interesting to note that India's fielding or rather catching efficiency has been very poor. So, (T) Dilip, the fielding coach, would be working overtime to make sure that the fielders are having enough catches.

“But the fact is that it's very hard to push any team for that matter beyond a certain point in fielding, knowing that there is a match around the corner because it is physically very exhausting. So, you need to understand the player before you see where they have dropped a catch and what you need to do.

“At times, it could just be as simple as the player probably wasn't concentrating enough in that field. It's got nothing to do with skill set of taking a catch. So, just addressing the root cause of the issue would be the right way to go about it," he concluded.

A large number of Indian fans gathered outside the iconic Wankhede Stadium, waving the national flag to welcome the Indian cricket team ahead of their semifinal clash. Team India arrived at the venue in their team bus amid loud cheers from supporters.

India will face England cricket team in the T20 World Cup semifinal at the Mumbai venue.

Meanwhile, New Zealand national cricket team have already secured their place in the final of the tournament after a crushing victory over South Africa national cricket team.

Set for a third consecutive semifinal clash at the T20 World Cup, India and England will have no secrets to throw at each other on Thursday, said Sam Curran, who is hoping his side can deliver a “perfect game” after a topsy-turvy campaign so far.

India and England have each won one of those semifinals and gone on to lift the T20 World Cup. While England clinched the trophy after crushing India by 10 wickets in the 2022 edition, India claimed their second title in 2024 following a 78-run victory.

"It's just nice having played at the ground many times, so there's not many unknowns for us," Curran told reporters ahead of England's training session on Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium.

"We've got two days training now, so we'll get used to the surroundings, the change room, and (the) dimensions of the ground...things like that. You play (at) these stadiums so much, you get used to different conditions.

"The crowd, the opposition, we play a lot with the Indian guys, so there's going to be no secrets in terms of what each team will probably throw at each other," he added.

England have had their share of ups and downs in the tournament, including a nervy four-run win over minnows Nepal. In the Super Eight stage, their two-wicket victory over Pakistan was largely built on the individual brilliance of Harry Brook, who struck a memorable hundred.

"It doesn't really matter now; it comes down to the World Cup semifinal. If there's ever a time we want to play our perfect game, it's probably Thursday night," Curran said.

"We've all been chipping in at different times but we know in T20 cricket it probably just takes a couple of our guys to come good with the bat and good with the ball."

The Wankhede Stadium is expected to be packed with Indian supporters on Thursday, and Curran knows how “quiet” it could become in what is likely to be a high-scoring contest.

"It's a fantastic stadium, obviously very iconic. I'm sure it's going to be very quiet on Thursday night," Curran said with a smile.

"As a young cricketer, you dream of playing India in a semifinal of the World Cup. It's normally a pretty good wicket, small ground, so I'm probably expecting a really high-scoring game," he added.

Despite India’s confident run in the tournament so far, Curran said England will not be intimidated.

"India are a quality side, but we've played a lot of cricket here. Most of our (players in the) team have played in the IPL and against India. We're not fearing anything and I'm sure both teams are really excited by the challenge of Thursday night and hopefully, the perfect game for us happens," he continued.

Three of the four semifinalists in this edition are from outside the Indian subcontinent, and Curran said adaptability has played a key role.

"This tournament for us has been a little bit of a challenge in terms of (how) we've come across so many different conditions, playing in Sri Lanka and obviously a couple games here and in Kolkata," Curran said.

"We've adapted extremely well. You'd probably say that the non-subcontinental teams have adapted really well to I guess the conditions thrown at them."

And much of the credit, he added, goes to the melting pot that is the IPL.

"All of us play a lot of cricket in India now, so we know how to play on these grounds and we know what to expect and the IPL, no question, has helped a lot of that with the players.

"South Africa, New Zealand (are) fantastic teams and we're a really good team as well. And of course, India. I think probably the four best teams are in the semifinals and we'll see who takes that trophy," Curran added.

It was at the Wankhede Stadium in February last year that India and England last faced off in a T20I here, a match remembered for world No. 1 Abhishek Sharma’s stunning 54-ball 135, which included 13 sixes and seven boundaries.

As pressure mounts on the currently struggling Abhishek to deliver big runs, Curran hoped history would not repeat itself.

"I do hope Abhishek doesn't have (a) same knock again. We're very well-planned for the game and we (keep the) focus on Thursday night," Curran added.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has made a bold prediction ahead of the high-stakes semifinal between India national cricket team and England cricket team in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Speaking on a Pakistani television show, Latif backed England to defeat India and progress to the final. The winner of Thursday’s clash will take on New Zealand national cricket team, who booked their place in the title clash after defeating South Africa national cricket team in the other semifinal.

Historically, India hold a slight edge over England in T20 World Cup meetings, leading the head-to-head record 3–2. Their first encounter came in the inaugural 2007 edition when India secured an 18-run win in a memorable contest. That match is best remembered for Yuvraj Singh smashing six sixes in an over.

England responded two years later in the 2009 tournament, edging past India after the latter fell three runs short while chasing 154. India regained the upper hand in the 2012 edition with a dominant 90-run victory. A decade later, England produced a commanding performance to defeat India in the 2022 tournament and advance to the final. However, India turned the tables again in the 2024 T20 World Cup under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.

Despite India’s favourable record, Latif believes England have the edge this time.

"England will win the semifinals," said Latif.

"They are coming from difficult conditions, and 2-3 batters have succeeded. That's what they need and their middle order is strong," he said.

"England know these conditions very well. Even if just one England player performs, that will be enough for India to lose," he further added.

England’s journey to the semifinals has been marked by resilience. They have had to recover from challenging situations in multiple matches, including tight contests against Nepal and Pakistan where they showed composure under pressure. The team also secured a crucial win over New Zealand in the Super 8 stage and remain unbeaten in the competition.

Looking ahead to the semifinal, England captain Harry Brook emphasised the value of winning close matches in a global tournament.

"We've won tight games, which in World Cups prove to be very important, and we've got a lot of confidence going into the deeper parts of the game," Brook said.

"We've won games, which we probably shouldn't have won, and it just feels like we've never really been out of any game so far, which holds you in good stead in these world competitions."

"Obviously fielding is something that we speak about a lot. That I think at times we're guilty if we're honest of giving away maybe 15-20 runs in the field. So that's one thing, one aspect that we keep on working hard and, asking the guys to really step up on."

- Morne Morkel

"We're obviously going into the game very confident. We're playing some good cricket. We haven't quite played that perfect performance, and I feel like it's just around the corner. Hopefully it's tomorrow night and we go out there and we just play with freedom, play brave, and yeah, look to take it to them as much as we can."

- Harry Brook

Probable XI - ENGLAND: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

Probable XI - INDIA: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy

The defending champions India take on England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday in the second semi-final of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The winner of the contest will then face New Zealand in the summit clash in Ahmedabad on Sunday, after the Kiwis defeated South Africa by nine wickets in the first semi-final in Kolkata on Wednesday.

While the weather forecast currently looks clear, fans remain cautious after two earlier matches in the tournament were washed out due to rain, raising concerns about what could happen if the weather disrupts the knockout match.

To prevent chaos in the crucial stage, the International Cricket Council has scheduled a reserve day for both semi-finals. If rain or bad weather stops play on the scheduled day, the match will either continue or restart on the following day, ensuring that every effort is made to produce a result.

There is also additional time built into the playing schedule. The semi-finals have up to 90 minutes of extra time on the main day, while the reserve day allows up to 120 minutes of extra play if required. For the final, both the main day and the reserve day have 120 minutes of additional time available to complete the match.

Mumbai Weather Forecast at Match Time Today

For a valid result to be declared, each team must bat at least 10 overs. If rain prevents that from happening on the main day, the match will resume on the reserve day from the exact point where it stopped rather than starting from scratch.

However, if the game still cannot be completed even after the reserve day, the rules favour the team that finished higher in the Super 8 stage. This scenario could prove tricky for India. India finished second in their Super 8 group, while England topped theirs with three wins.

That means if the India versus England semi-final is completely washed out, England would advance to the final.

The tournament final is scheduled for March 8 in Ahmedabad, with March 9 kept as the reserve day.

- India have the upper hand over England in T20Is across formats — leading 17-12 overall, 3-2 in T20 World Cups, 10-6 in matches played in India, and 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between the two sides.

- Six of India’s top seven batters from their last XI have scored at least one fifty in this World Cup. Interestingly, Tilak — the team’s most consistent batter with 20-plus scores in all but one match — has a highest score of just 44*. Five different batters have top-scored for India, while the remaining two have played supporting roles, finishing as the second-highest scorer in three (Hardik) and two (Tilak) matches respectively.

- Jacks has been named Player of the Match in four of England’s six wins in the tournament — the joint-most by a player in a single edition, alongside Shane Watson in 2012.

England seemed all set for an early exit when Nepal required six runs off the last two balls in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener. While the cricketing gods showed mercy on that day, the cracks in the system soon burst through in the 30-run loss against West Indies. Pacer Jofra Archer's form was identified as a major achilles heel, conceding 90 runs in eight overs as the opposition tore him apart. Archer was a surprise inclusion having featured in limited matches due to a side strain, which clearly reflected in his lack of rhythm.

However, the 30-year-old pacer showcased remarkable fortitude to spearhead England's upturn in fortunes, impressing especially during the powerplay. Archer has picked 10 wickets in seven T20 World Cup 2026 matches, recording eight dismissals during the powerplay which is the most by any bowler till the semi-finals. England have accounted for 18 wickets in the powerplay which is six more than India. Archer has also bowled 66 dots out of 114 deliveries in the opening six overs, which is the best tally in the ongoing edition.


'Archer's deliveries drift down leg-side when struggling'

Coach Zubin Bharucha, who has worked alongside the English pacer, dismissed concerns regarding his performance in the opening two matches. "Such express fast bowlers require regular competitive action to get into the flow. Archer's deliveries tend to drift down the leg-side when he is struggling and the wrist also seems a little bent, due to an improper follow-through and lack of synchronization" said Bharucha during an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com.

Archer's training sessions are very structured with focus on top-notch intensity. While critics have termed the pacer as lackadaisical, it couldn't be further from the truth. Archer is a very sharp and intuitive player who pays keen attention to every instruction, catching even Shane Warne off guard at one point.

Catching Shane Warne off guard

"Warne was once sharing an instruction during a meeting where it seemed like Archer was inattentive. However, he almost took Warne on regarding the communication afterwards, saying, 'You mentioned a certain thing but it didn't happen that way'. Warne later told me, 'We have to be careful around him. Jofra listens to everything'" jokingly shared Bharucha.

England will take on India in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium where Archer could generate extra bounce and movement on red soil. The pacer's action is very deceptive, leaving batters in no man's land while attempting to negotiate his deliveries. India managed to recover from a powerplay collapse against the USA but it certainly won't be as easy against Archer who will be England's trump card.

Interestingly, the 30-year-old fast-bowler has dominated proceedings against Sanju Samson so far, dismissing the batter thrice in five T20Is off short deliveries. Samson has scored 25 runs in 23 deliveries bowled by Archer, perishing while attempting to play the pull shot. The batter's record will certainly be a dampener for Indian fans, considering the increased expectations following his 97* against West Indies.

'Samson-Archer face-off will be cat and mouse game'

"It will be a cat-and-mouse game between Sanju and Jofra. Samson needs to be prudent because Archer could well be devastating if allowed to settle. I won't be surprised if he gets a third over upfront. Samson should get into position and use the pace, playing off the back foot. Attacking off the opening delivery or the final ball will be a wise call," stated Bharucha.

However, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma enjoyed success against Archer during England's tour of India in early 2025. The former smashed Archer for 61 runs off 33 deliveries while the latter accumulated 36 runs off 16 balls, by creating room and slashing the ball. Abhishek smashed 135(54) in the last T20I played against England at the Wankhede Stadium, where the 30-year-old pacer conceded 55 runs and picked one wicket. A cracker of a contest awaits.

Speculation surfaced on social media after India’s win over West Indies that Sanju Samson could face disciplinary action — or even a ban — for his emotional on-field celebration in Kolkata. The rumours claimed that the Indian batter might miss the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England on Thursday because he dropped his helmet to the ground after hitting the match-winning boundary.

The moment came at the end of a tense chase when Samson sealed India’s victory with a boundary. As the ball raced away, the right-handed batter removed his helmet and dropped it onto the ground before falling to his knees and offering a prayer. The emotional celebration quickly went viral, with some observers suggesting the act might fall under the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct related to equipment abuse.

Sanju Samson's possible ban: What do the ICC rules say?

A closer look at the rules suggests that the fears of a suspension are largely misplaced. Under Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, players can be penalised for “abuse of cricket equipment,” which includes actions such as throwing or striking items like helmets, bats, or stumps in frustration. The rule also covers deliberate damage to advertising boards, boundary fences, or dressing room fixtures.

Even if Samson’s act were to be reviewed under this provision, it would most likely fall under a Level 1 offence — the lowest category of disciplinary breaches. Level 1 incidents typically attract fines or demerit points rather than suspensions.

Former international umpire Anil Chaudhary also dismissed the speculation, explaining that Samson’s gesture appeared to be an emotional celebration rather than an act of anger or protest. According to him, such moments are common in high-pressure matches and are rarely treated as serious offences.

Recent examples support this interpretation. Scotland’s George Munsey received only one demerit point earlier in the tournament after throwing his helmet in frustration following his dismissal.

As things stand, there has been no official charge or complaint against Samson from match officials. India are scheduled to face England in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5, and the wicketkeeper-batter remains fully eligible to play.

Shivam Dube’s childhood coach, Satish Samant, believes the all-rounder will have a key role to play in India’s semifinal clash against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Apart from Dube, Samant also expects captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma to make an impact, noting that the players are well aware of the conditions as they represent the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the same venue.

"I think the players of the Mumbai Indians are more accustomed to playing on this surface, as they have a lot of practice here. Hardik is there, and Suryakumar is the captain. Shivam also has a very important role to play," Satish Samant told IANS.

Dube has been one of India’s standout performers in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, particularly as a “crisis man” in the middle order. In seven matches so far, he has scored 166 runs at an average of 33.20 and a strike rate of 156.60.

However, his bowling has been a concern, with the all-rounder picking up just five wickets at an economy rate of 13.28 in the same number of matches.

Samant also spoke about the pitch and playing conditions ahead of the encounter, saying the surface could offer extra bounce and assist fast bowlers early in the innings. He also advised India to bowl first if they win the toss, citing the possibility of dew at the Wankhede.

"I think about the semifinal match we watched yesterday. The way New Zealand batted in that game, the pitch may behave in a similar manner. There could be a little extra bounce, and usually fast bowlers get some additional bounce from such a surface," he said.

"If India wins the toss, then bowling first is compulsory as during this season, dew comes and it will be difficult for bowlers to defend a big total, so I think they should choose to bowl after winning the toss," he added.

India, the defending champions, will face England in the second semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

India and England share one of cricket’s oldest rivalries, and this semi-final will be the third consecutive T20 World Cup where the two teams meet at this stage. In fact, in the past two World Cups, the winner of this clash went on to win the tournament.


In the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final in Australia, England bowled first and restricted India to 168/6. Virat Kohli scored a half-century to steady the innings, and Hardik Pandya played a brilliant 63 off 33 balls. For England, Chris Jordan took three wickets.

During the chase, England’s openers, Alex Hales and Jos Buttler, dominated and chased the target without losing a wicket, finishing with four overs to spare. It was a painful loss for India, and captain Rohit Sharma admitted the team needed to rethink its T20 approach.

Match & Results

T20 World Cup, 2022 - ENG won by 10 wickets at Adelaide Oval
T20 World Cup, 2024 - IND won by 68 runs at Providence Stadium

Two years later, India had a chance to get revenge in the 2024 semi-final in Guyana. Batting first, India scored 171/20, with Rohit Sharma making 57, Suryakumar Yadav 47, and Hardik Pandya 23 from 13 balls.

England struggled in their chase, and India’s bowlers dominated. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets each, while Jasprit Bumrah picked up two. England were bowled out for 103, giving India a comfortable 68-run victory. India went on to beat South Africa in the final to win their second T20 World Cup.

England and India have a strong rivalry in the ODI World Cup as well. They have faced each other in the semi-finals twice before. In 1983, India won by 6 wickets at Old Trafford. Then, in 1987, England won by 35 runs at Wankhede Stadium. These matches show how competitive and closely fought their contests have been in World Cup history.

India vs England ODI World Cup semi-final stats:

Match & Results
ODI World Cup, 1983 - IND won by 6 wickets at Old Trafford
ODI World Cup, 1987 - ENG won by 35 runs at Wankhede Stadium

India and England will clash in their third consecutive T20 World Cup semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday night. Both sides have one win each in their previous knockout meetings, with the victor on both occasions going on to lift the trophy.

England thrashed India by 10 wickets in the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal, chasing 170 with openers Alex Hales (86 not out) and Jos Buttler (80 not out) dominating on a flat Adelaide pitch. Two years later in Providence, India avenged that defeat with a 68-run victory as spinners Kuldeep Yadav (3-19) and Axar Patel (3-28) bowled England out for 103 in 16.4 overs.

India had beaten England 4-1 in a five-match T20I series last January, sealing it with a 150-run win at the Wankhede. However, the stakes are much higher in a World Cup semifinal.

Both teams enter the match with confidence, though England appear to have greater momentum after winning all three of their Super 8 matches against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand. India, meanwhile, will be looking to defy history — no defending champion has retained the T20 World Cup and no host nation has won the title. In fact, no defending champion has even reached the final in the subsequent edition.

India topped Group A alongside Pakistan and associate teams, winning all four league matches. However, their batting has looked vulnerable on slower pitches against spin. That was evident during a collapse against the United States at Wankhede, where the hosts slumped to 77-6 before captain Suryakumar Yadav rescued them with an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls.

England began their campaign with a narrow four-run win over Nepal at Wankhede, with Sam Curran defending 10 runs in the final over and Will Jacks producing a fine all-round effort.

They later lost to the West Indies by 30 runs at the same venue, where Sherfane Rutherford smashed 76 not out off 42 balls and the Caribbean spinners stifled England’s batting.

India’s Super 8 campaign started with a 76-run loss to South Africa in Ahmedabad. They bounced back by thrashing Zimbabwe by 72 runs in Chennai after posting 256 for four, and then beat the West Indies by five wickets at Eden Gardens, powered by Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97 off 50 balls and Jasprit Bumrah’s double strike.

England, meanwhile, began the Super 8s with a 51-run win over Sri Lanka, bowling them out for 95. They followed it up with a twowicket victory against Pakistan, highlighted by captain Harry Brook’s blistering 100 off 51 balls and Liam Dawson’s 3-24. England sealed a semifinal berth with a four-wicket win over New Zealand.

Samson has been among India’s most consistent batters, in sharp contrast to opening partner Abhishek Sharma, who has managed just 80 runs in six matches at an average of 13.33, including three ducks.

His fifty against Zimbabwe remains his only significant contribution. The left-hander will hope to rediscover his touch at a venue where he once smashed 135 off 54 balls.

England too have concerns over their openers. Buttler has scored just 62 runs in seven matches at an average of 8.85, while Phil Salt has struggled for consistency apart from a 62 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. Samson, who has struggled against short-pitched bowling, and the out-of-form Abhishek could face a stern test from Jofra Archer in the powerplay.

However, Archer too has found Wankhede unforgiving, returning figures of 1-42 against Nepal and 1-48 against the West Indies.

Ishan Kishan has been quiet after a match-winning 77 off 40 balls against Pakistan in Colombo. However, he, along with Surya, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya — all former Mumbai Indians players — will be familiar with the Wankhede conditions.Tilak looked more comfortable after moving from No. 3 to No. 6, scoring 44 not out off 16 balls against Zimbabwe and 27 off 15 against West Indies.

India’s vulnerability against spin could again be tested by England’s attack comprising Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson, Rehan Ahmed and off-spinning allrounder Will Jacks. India will counter with Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel, though Varun has struggled for rhythm — a far cry from last year’s bilateral series against England when he claimed 14 wickets in five matches at an average of 9.85.