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

Wednesday’s nets session was an optional one, but Varun Chakravarthy was out there, alongside bowling coach Morne Morkel, slogging it out in searing heat.

The focus throughout the session, and during the mammoth one that India put in on Tuesday evening, was on the length he needs to hit against England in the semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Varun started the T20 World Cup campaign with a bang, ending the four-match group stage with nine wickets at a strike rate of 8. But in the Super Eights, while bowling against stronger opponents, he was found somewhat wanting. In the three games, he took just two wickets at a strike-rate of 24 and conceded 10.16 runs per over, which is much higher than his career economy rate of 7.23. He finished with figures of 1/47 against South Africa, 1/35 against Zimbabwe and 1/40 against West Indies.

Against South Africa, David Miller, Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs showed the courage to take on the mystery spinner. As a result, he erred in his line and length—bowling a bit short or fuller when put under pressure—which brought him into the batters’ arc to hit him down the ground or either side of the wicket. The story repeated against the West Indies in the last match at the Eden Gardens, with Shimron Hetmyer and Jason Holder going after the Kolkata Knight Riders’ spinner. When the batters took him on, they curtailed his ability to apply the squeeze in the middle overs and take wickets to keep the opponents on the mat.

Varun is still among the top-five wicket-takers in this edition with 12 scalps, but teams seem to have dissected his variations, especially the googly, which has been his go-to delivery to take wickets. Almost 75% of his wickets in T20Is have come with the googly. When he has bowled the googly at pace, rival batters have played him as an incoming bowler and tried to hit him straighter. When he has got one to turn away, batters have backed themselves and adjusted.

With the likes of Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks in their ranks, England will take a cue from Varun’s outings against South Africa and West Indies, make use of the shorter boundaries and put the 34-year-old under pressure.

During the media interaction, Morkel revealed that discussions with Varun centred around getting “clarity” of his plans a day ahead of the match and “allowing him to walk away feeling good about his body”.

“With the variations that Varun’s got, he’s got the ability to take a wicket with almost every ball. So, the discussion was that if he goes for a boundary, the aim is to move on to the next one and make sure he commits to that next ball. He’s hard to pick once you walk into the crease. So, for him it’s just about getting that confidence into the ball, getting his speed, his length and control right,” said Morkel.

Jos Buttler has appeared to be a pale shadow of the man who was England's most feared white-ball batter at one point, and amongst the world's best. The out-of-form former England captain's streak of scores in the 2026 T20 World Cup reads: 26, 21, 3, 3, 7, 2, 0: overall 62 runs in seven matches@8.85. Just before the tournament, Buttler had shown signs of struggling with form, and was dismissed for scores of 17, 39 & 25 in the three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka.

Aged 35, Buttler, boasting of an experience of 154 T20Is, is the oldest and most experienced player in the English pack. However, he has also appeared to be a batsman who looks to be past his best.


However, England, especially their white-ball captain Harry Brook, aren't giving up on him. Going into the all-important semifinal encounter with hosts India at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, England captain Harry Brook shot back when questioned on whether England were worried about Buttler's form. Brook also asserted that it was a great idea to offer any advice or suggestions to one of Enmgland's greatest ever white-ball batters.

"Yeah, you don't have to talk to him too much. I think leaving him alone is probably the best thing to do. He's been a powerhouse of a cricketer for many years, as we've all seen. I've been asked this question thousands of times now, and I just think there should be no reason to question why he's in the team," said Brook at the pre- match press conference.

Buttler has played multiple IPL games at the Wankhede during his stints with various franchises in the IPL-for the Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and now Gujarat Titans. He will be one batter that the Indian team will be wary of in Thursday's semifinal because of his vast experience and familiarity with the conditions. Buttler has been struggling for form in recent months and has managed scores in the 20s in England's last three matches in the series against Sri Lanka ahead of the World Cup.

Asked about his opinion of the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium pitch for the semifinal, Brook confessed that he had little idea about pitches, and revealed that said he would have a chat with England head coach Brendon McCullum, have a look at the stats and take a call on what call to take if he wins the toss. "I don't know. You're asking the wrong man. I don't know anything about wickets. I'll have a chat with Baz tonight and tomorrow before the game. We'll have a look at the stats and see what to do first if we win the toss," said the England captain.

Leading for the first time in the T20 World Cup, Brook has marshalled his recourse well, making full use of Will Jacks' off-spin in the subcontinental conditions being a particular masterstroke. England have lost only one match in seven games, a 30-run defeat to West Indies in the league phase at the Wankhede Stadium.

"We obviously get a lot of stats, we've got a lot of videos, we can see where the batters are trying to hit the ball, we know the wagon wheels and what not, we know the match-ups, it's just about trying to fiddle the bowlers to make sure that it's uncomfortable for their batters for as long as possible really. They're obviously a very good side, and they can adapt to different bowlers, but my job is to try and make it as uncomfortable for them as possible," said Brook.

Like his teammate and left-arm pacer Sam Curran said the other day, Brook believes that his side’s best performance in the tournament may still be ahead of them. Brook admitted that while England have found ways to win throughout the tournament, the team is yet to deliver a “perfect” performance, something he hopes could arrive when they need it the most. “It’s a dream come true for most of us to play in a World Cup semifinal against the home nation on a very iconic ground. We’re all really looking forward to it,” Brook said.

The 27-year-old Brook, one of the most exciting white-ball batsmen in world cricket, has led England's campaign from the front, having dished out a scintillating knock of 100 off just 51 balls to guide England to a two-wicket win over Pakistan in a tense chase in a crucial Super 8s clash at Pallekele, which sealed England's spot in the T20 World Cup semifinals.

The England captain insisted his side will approach the contest with confidence and freedom.

“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, play with freedom and be brave,” he asserted.

England’s path to the semi-finals has been marked by resilience. On several occasions they clawed their way back from difficult situations to secure dramatic, thrilling wins against Nepal and Pakistan and New Zealand, though they did well to remain unbeaten in the Super 8 stage.

Brook believes that those tense, tight finishes have helped England in competition like the World Cup, with every close win perhaps injecting that they were good enough to go all the way and clinch the title. “We’ve won them tight games which in World Cups is very important. It feels like we’ve never really been out of any game so far and that holds you in good stead in these world competitions.”

Much of England’s success has come through collective contributions, but Brook said that he is now sensing a single standout performance, which will perhaps decide the fate of this semifinal clash.

“All it takes is one of the top seven to get a decent score or one of our bowlers to have an amazing day. So far it’s mainly been team performances, but I feel like there’s a big individual performance to come soon,” the England captain said.

Brook highlighted the fact that the likes of Will Jacks, Tom Banton and Liam Dawson have played key roles during the tournament. All these players look be flourishing under his captaincy. “Jacksy (Jacks) for example has had four Player of the Match awards this World Cup,” Brook said. “Dawson has played a massive role in plenty of games and Banton has won us a few games off his own bat. They’ve taken their roles on beautifully.”

Even though he's out of form, India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, still the top-ranked T20I bowler, poses a significant challenge. Brook himself has been troubled by Varun several times, especially during England's 4-1 defeat to India in India early last year. However, Brook dismissed the notion that England tend to struggle against spin, pointing to the team’s success in Sri Lanka just before the 2026 T20 World Cup, when they beat the islanders 2-1 in the ODIs and 3-0 in the T20I series.

“England always gets a bad reputation about playing spin. But we’ve got a lot of confidence playing on turning pitches. Chakaravarthy is one of the best bowlers in the world and I’ll try my best to score as many runs as I can against him,” ,” he said

backed by a passionate home crowd and enjoying familiar home conditions at the Wankhede Stadium, India start as the favourites, a fact that Brook acknowledged the scale of the challenge, but insisted T20 cricket often produces surprises. “India were the favourites from the start of the competition, as they should be. But T20 cricket is such a fickle game — anything can happen,” Brook felt.

In T20 cricket, contributions in clutch moments often matter as much as the volume of runs or wickets. Over the last two years, Shivam Dube has repeatedly delivered when India needed him most.

In the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, India were reduced to 106/4 and needed someone to support Virat Kohli and guide them to a competitive total. Rohit Sharma backed Dube’s temperament, sending him ahead of Hardik Pandya. The lefthander responded with a crucial 16-ball 27 as he shared a 57-run fifth-wicket stand with Kohli, helping India reach 176/7.

Last year, in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, Dube was again pushed up the order, this time ahead of Rinku Singh, and once again rose to the occasion. Walking in with India at 77/4, he stitched a 40-ball 60-run partnership with Tilak Varma to steer India to a five-wicket win, scoring a 22-ball 33.

The 32-year-old has continued to make timely contributions in this edition of the T20 World Cup and will look to do so again when India face England in Thursday’s semifinal at his home ground, the Wankhede Stadium.

It was here that Dube first grabbed attention during the inaugural T20 Mumbai League, smashing five sixes in an over for Shivaji Park Lions. He repeated the feat in a Ranji Trophy match against Baroda in 2018 and earned an IPL contract the following year.

In this World Cup, Dube didn’t get going early against the USA and Namibia, but his batting has gathered momentum as the tournament progressed. His 17-ball 27 against Pakistan and a fluent 31-ball 66 against the Netherlands were widely praised, while his quick eight off four balls against the West Indies in the last match helped seal India’s place in the semifinals.

The Chennai Super Kings all-rounder drew praise after that game, with head coach Gautam Gambhir and lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah highlighting the importance of his brief cameo.

“For me, Shivam’s two boundaries are as important as Sanju’s 97 because if he hadn’t hit those two boundaries, that knock might not even have been talked about,” Gambhir said. “The big contributions make headlines, but the small ones help the team cross the line.”

Bumrah echoed that sentiment in a video posted by the ICC on Instagram. “The two fours that Dube hit — not many will appreciate that. But people who understand cricket know those two boundaries released the pressure,” he said.

While Dube has been consistent with the bat, India would like more impact from him with the ball, where he has been expensive. Bowling coach Morne Morkel believes it is more about execution than form. “I don’t think it’s a loss of bowling form,” Morkel said on Wednesday. “Shivam knows his game pretty well. Sometimes the thinking behind the delivery is right, but the execution hasn’t been as good.”

Morkel added that improving his decision-making with the ball will be key. “Teams are going to go after him, but that also creates wicket-taking opportunities. If he can be a little smarter and execute better, it’ll make a big difference.”

Early in his international career, Dube struggled against short-pitched pace but worked hard in the nets to overcome that weakness. India will hope he can produce a similar turnaround with the ball as well.

The mercury reached uncomfortable levels on Wednesday, with weather forecast apps flashing a "danger of dehydration and heatstroke if outside for extended periods of time" warning. There were occasional moderate breezes, but they were not strong enough to make it a pleasant afternoon. The pitch baked under the harsh sun for most of the day, and the ground staff gently rolled it to keep it game-ready for the semi-final between India and England.

From a distance, it seemed to have a nice green tinge, but it was the typical misleading sub-continent green. Its only role was to bind the surface together and prevent it from deteriorating and drying more than normal. The centre strip naturally drew the most attention when the two teams trained on the eve of the match, and both camps hummed similar tunes as they expect it to offer plenty of runs. When India trained two days before the match, light dew started settling on the outfield, but it was not alarming. However, the sudden shift in the weather pattern could make it another talking point.


India bowling coach Morne Morkel delved deeply into the subject, explaining at length why the extra bounce at the venue is a double-edged sword. Having played and watched a lot of cricket at the Wankhede, Morkel asserted that margins here are smaller than at most venues because the "ball travels."

"Look, I think the dew is always a big concern. But that's again something you can't control, which is the toss. I think here at Wankhede there's always that extra bit of bounce. Guys can trust the bounce and hit through the line. But in saying that, that can also, as a bowler, bring you into the game. I just felt, or feel, that the margins here are a lot smaller, the ball travels. It's quite a small ground. So, yeah, you just need to be really fighting for that over, stay in the moment and compete every ball because, like I said, a batter's strength can also be his weakness on this surface. So it's sometimes not to go too defensive and to keep attacking, because opportunities can come," said Morkel in the pre-match presser.

The last time India played England at this venue, they won by 150 runs. In that game, Abhishek Sharma smashed a 54-ball 135, including 13 sixes and seven boundaries, and the opener later picked up two wickets to seal an emphatic win. The stakes, however, are different this time because this is not an inconsequential bilateral fixture but the semi-final of the T20 World Cup.

Harry Brook-led England have aced different conditions to progress to the semi-final stage, and Morkel is wary of the challenges they bring to the table. The former South African cricketer felt that the team which holds its nerve, reads the conditions well and is quickest will probably be the one that flies to Ahmedabad.

Defending champions India will face two-time winners England in the second semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. The match continues one of cricket’s oldest rivalries, with a place in the final at stake.

India reached the semi-finals after beating West Indies in their last match with a strong all-round performance. England also come into the game in good form, finishing top of their Super 8 group after winning all three of their matches.


This will be the third straight T20 World Cup where India and England meet in the semi-finals. In the last two editions, the winner of this clash went on to lift the trophy, adding extra importance to Thursday’s contest.

With both teams in good rhythm and used to playing high-pressure matches, fans can expect an exciting and closely fought battle in Mumbai.

India vs England Predicted Playing XI:

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

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

India vs England Squads:

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh

England: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

India will face England in a high-stakes ICC T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final on Thursday at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium. With a place in the final on the line, both teams will be looking to bring their best game in front of a packed, passionate home crowd.

India reached the semis after a strong win over West Indies in their last match, while England, who have faced India in the last two T20 World Cup semi-finals, will rely on their experience in Indian conditions. Both teams are familiar with high-pressure encounters, making this clash a thrilling contest for fans.


The winner will advance to the final against either South Africa or New Zealand, setting the stage for a classic showdown.

Head-to-Head Records in T20Is:

Total Matches: 29

India Wins: 17

England Wins:12

India vs England: When and Where to Watch

Match Date: 5th February 2026

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Match Time: 7:00 pm

TV Broadcast in India: Star Sports Network

Live Streaming: Jio Hotstar app and website

Online Coverage: Live ball-by-ball updates and detailed coverage will be available on TimesofIndia.com

India vs England Squads:

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh

England: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

India opener Sanju Samson has thrust himself into the centre of attention after a match-winning, unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in a virtual knockout clash. The calmness he exhibited in a tense chase turned the game on its head and handed India crucial momentum ahead of the semifinal against England.

The innings also represents a dramatic turnaround in Samson’s tournament. Having started on the bench after losing his spot in the playing XI, he made full use of the opportunity when recalled for the Windies encounter. Under immense pressure in a chase exceeding 190, the right-hander silenced detractors with a composed and authoritative display that could prove pivotal to India’s campaign.


Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis offered a detailed tactical view of Samson’s game, identifying a potential chink in his armour. While acknowledging Samson’s strength through the mid-wicket region, Du Plessis suggested that high pace, particularly well-directed short balls above 140 kmph, can trouble him.

"That's always been the one area where you feel, with Sanju, you can attack him (with short ball), and it's with high pace. He's very strong in the tummy area, where that backswing is just beautiful. But 140-plus, if you get it nice and high, you feel like there's a little window where you can attack him. It's a weakness. So there's the evidence in England, so they'll have the blueprint," Du Plessis said on ESPNCricinfo.

Recent matches have followed a similar script for Samson, with quality short-pitched bowling testing him. The trend resurfaced in the Super 8 fixture against Zimbabwe, where Blessing Muzarabani removed him early by exploiting that very vulnerability.

Expanding on his analysis, Du Plessis emphasised that Samson must now prepare for a barrage of short deliveries, especially against express quicks like Jofra Archer.

"Sanju will know what's coming, so for him now it's - how do I counter it? What am I going to do when Archer comes short at me? Am I attacking it or are there other bowlers, where I can just play them a little bit better?" the former Proteas skipper added.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has flagged India’s slipping standards in the field as a major worry ahead of their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Despite an impressive run to the last four, India’s catching has been far from convincing. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the side has shelled 13 catches in the tournament so far, with their catching efficiency dipping to a competition-low 72.7 per cent. In contrast, Pakistan, long criticised for their work in the field, have managed a significantly better success rate of 83.3 per cent.

“One concern I feel is the fielding and not just the way India fielded in the game at Eden Gardens. It has been happening for almost a year and a half. We are dropping quite a few catches. That is something India would definitely like to work on,” Patel told Jio Hotstar.

India sealed their semifinal place with a gritty victory over the West Indies at the Eden Gardens, successfully overhauling a target above 190. Patel termed the result a huge boost for the side.

“It was an outstanding win. It will be a great confidence booster for India going forward. India won the toss and decided to bowl first, thinking there would be a lot of dew. When the game finished, there was no dew at all, but the conditions did get slightly better. In a knockout game, chasing in excess of 190, someone needed to play an outstanding knock, and Sanju Samson did that," Parthiv said.

"The Captain took his hat off. He has scored a lot of hundreds in international cricket, but to me, this innings was right up there. Skill-wise, we all know that Sanju Samson is a very talented batter, but fighting those mental battles is very difficult. I thought Sanju Samson did that really well. He also spoke about how his experience came into the fold. I thought it was a very mature innings. He always looked in control. He did not try to hit the ball hard. He will remember this innings for a long time,” he added.

Patel also singled out pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for special praise, highlighting his knack for breaking key partnerships.

“Bumrah is not a banker. He is the bank. The way he comes out and bowls, when you want to take a wicket against an in-form Hetmyer, he comes in and takes his wicket, then gets a set Roston Chase. Obviously, India has looked up to Jasprit Bumrah most of the time, and he has never disappointed. That is what he does most often. You are playing in a format right now, in this era, where the only way you can stop a batter is by getting him out, and Jasprit Bumrah does that.”

Looking ahead to the clash with England, Patel stressed the importance of early breakthroughs against a dangerous batting unit.

“India obviously need to get England's dangerous batters out as quickly as possible. You have Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, who is due for runs and likes the Wankhede Stadium. Then you have Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook. So, they have a good, solid line-up. It is a good all-round team. Obviously, against England, India will have to be at the top of their game,” he concluded.

India will face England in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India secured a commanding victory over the West Indies to advance, despite starting their Super 8 campaign with a loss to South Africa.

In the other semifinal, South Africa will compete against New Zealand at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. As fans eagerly anticipate the matches, concerns about the weather persist, leaving many wondering what will occur if the games are cancelled due to rain.

If the India vs England match is washed out, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has scheduled a reserve day. If there is a delay, officials have an additional 90 minutes on Thursday and 120 minutes on Friday to ensure at least a five-over match is played.

If the match is abandoned, the outcome will be determined depending on the teams’ position in their respective group’s Super 8 points table.

In that scenario, England will advance to the final since they finished higher than India in their Super 8 group. England topped their group with 3 wins, remaining unbeaten with six points to their name, while India finished second with 2 wins and four points.

If both semifinals are cancelled, South Africa and England will advance to the T20 World Cup final, having topped their respective Super Eights table.

The upcoming match in Mumbai continues an exciting semi-final sequence. In 2022, England stopped India's run in the penultimate stage before defeating Pakistan to win the trophy.

Two years later, the script flipped. Led by Rohit Sharma, India beat England in the 2024 semi-final and carried that momentum into the final, where they defeated South Africa in Barbados to win the title.

Notably, in recent editions, the team that wins the India-England semi-final has subsequently become the world champion, a pattern that makes Thursday's match even more interesting to watch out for.

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of the ICC T20 World Cup semifinal clash between India and England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Having not exactly sailed into the T20 World Cup semi-finals, India must now negotiate a potent spin threat from a dangerous England side as both teams chase perfection in Thursday's high-pressure knockout at the Wankhede Stadium.

Overwhelming favourites at the start of the tournament, India have not been able to stitch together a complete performance against stronger sides in the competition.

However, they have responded well by adopting a flexible approach after the heavy defeat against South Africa in their Super 8 opener.

Sanju Samson was brought back into the side to break the predictability of a left-handed top three in the powerplay, and the move has worked brilliantly.

More than 10 years after his India debut, Samson finally delivered on the big stage with a career-defining 97 not out in a virtual quarter-final against the West Indies.

The 31-year-old’s confidence must be sky-high after that special effort, and India will hope it rubs off on his opening partner Abhishek Sharma.

Such are the ways of the game that Abhishek came into the ICC event in the form of his life, while Samson had been dropped from the playing XI after a dismal run against New Zealand in the bilateral series.

The tables have now turned, and Abhishek is in desperate need of a confidence-boosting innings. The southpaw did score a fifty against Zimbabwe in the Super 8 but remains far from his ballistic best.

England will have their plans ready for the two openers. Expect a barrage of short balls into the body from Jofra Archer to test Samson, who has struggled against the England tearaway in the past, while Will Jacks could trouble Sharma with his off-spin in the powerplay.

Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson has also bowled in the first six overs, while the hosts will need to be at their best against the wily Adil Rashid in the middle overs. The openers and the rest of the Indian batters kept all these challenges in mind during a three-hour practice session on Tuesday.

Ishan Kishan has gone off the boil after a sensational start to the tournament and will be backing himself to fire at his former IPL home ground.

The same goes for the current Mumbai Indians stars in the national team – captain Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya – who batted for more than two hours in the main net session ahead of the semifinal.

Having been moved down the order to help the team’s cause, Tilak has impressed with his ball-striking in the middle order, after struggling to find the same fluency at number three earlier in the competition.

At a ground with short boundaries, the spin duo of Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy will have no room for error. The mystery spinner, in particular, needs to find his lengths consistently after proving a tad expensive against the West Indies and South Africa.

Jasprit Bumrah has been phenomenal as usual, but the bowlers will need to improve slightly in the last five overs. It will be interesting to see how Surya manages his resources, especially with Shivam Dube proving to be a risky sixth bowling option.

Playing Kuldeep Yadav is always a tempting prospect, but India are unlikely to tinker with their playing XI.

India played their tournament opener here a month ago and were troubled by the medium pace of Shadley van Schalkwyk on a two-paced surface.

The pitch reserved for the semifinal has been used twice in the tournament – when West Indies defended 196 against England and Italy cruised to a 10-wicket win over Nepal after bowling them out for 123.

Both India and England find themselves facing each other for the third T20 World Cup semifinal in a row. England hammered India on their way to the title in 2022 before the latter got their revenge in Guyana in 2024.

In the latest edition, England have relied on the individual brilliance of Harry Brook and Jacks to bail them out of tricky situations. All-rounder Sam Curran too has played his part well.

The focus has been on out-of-form Jos Buttler heading into the contest, and it remains to be seen if the England white-ball great can regain his rhythm in a crunch game.

The sides know each other well and, as Curran said on Tuesday, there will be no secrets between them.

Reflecting on England’s up-and-down run so far, Curran offered a pragmatic view.

"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," he said.

Teams:

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.

England: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.