Team India is gearing up to face England in a highly anticipated semi-final clash in the T20 World Cup 2026. The "Men In Blue" will be eager to put in an impressive performance in front of a buoyant Mumbai crowd to reach back-to-back T20 World Cup finals. Historically, India have enjoyed playing at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The defending champions cruised past the USA in the group stage at the iconic venue, in what was their only game at the Wankhede so far. Now, with a place in the final on the line again, the Suryakumar Yadav-led outfit will be eager to win at their 'fortress' again against the two-time champions, England. India's last T20I against England at the Wankhede Stadium was back in February 2025, the fifth of a five-match series. With the series already in the bag with a commanding win in Pune, the "Men in Blue" flexed their muscles in Mumbai, led by the ever-charismatic Abhishek Sharma. The dashing southpaw introduced himself to the Mumbai crowd by smashing India's second-fastest T20I ton. Sharma bulldozed his way to 135 runs of just 54 balls, leaving the Englishmen shell-shocked. His innings included 7 boundaries and 13 maximums, which single-handedly took the game away from England. India mustered 97 runs in the Powerplay and ended up with a mammoth total of 247 in 20 overs. In reply, England were bowled out in just over 10 overs for 97 runs, suffering one of their biggest losses ever. Mohammed Shami starred with the ball with 3 wickets, while Shivam Dube and Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with two wickets each to lead India to a commanding victory. The 150-run thrashing by India was England's worst loss in T20I at the time and prompted a change of personal. Now, a new look English side, led by Harry Brook will look to avenge their historic defeat at the biggest stage. England have found their rhythm just at the right time in the tournament. Having survived a scare against Nepal and after a disappointing loss against the West Indies, the "Three Lions" regrouped and qualified for the semi-final as the table toppers from Group 2. Now, with a showdown against the home favourites India on the horizon, Harry Brook and his boys will be eager to continue their good form. Meanwhile, in the Indian camp, things are looking positive. After the disappointing loss against South Africa, India's fortunes have turned, and they are now the red-hot favourites to defend their title. The Surya-led outfit will look back at their last encounter against England at Wankhede Stadium kindly and hope to replicate another victory. Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final, India will look to recreate their February 2025 Wankhede victory. Abhishek's 54-ball 135 fuelled a mammoth 247, leading to a record 150-run thrashing of England. While Harry Brook’s side seeks revenge, India will aim to use their Mumbai fortress to secure back-to-back final appearances.
04 March,2026 05:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India is all set to lock horns with Team India for the semi-final 2 of the T20 World Cup 2026. The match is scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5. Ahead of the match, Team India's management has one major concern: their bowlers have been conceding too many runs. Speaking on the issue, Team India's bowling coach Morne Morkel said the players are guilty of leaking runs. "It’s not about how you get to the semifinal but about how you play in the next two games. You cannot always bowl out the opposition for 120," he said. He also expressed hope that the clash against England will be a high-scoring affair. "Fielding is something we speak about a lot. At times we are guilty of giving away 15-20 runs and it’s one aspect we keep working hard. We are expecting it to be a good wicket and a high-scoring game," said Morkel. "The margins here are smaller and the ball travels, you need to be really in the moment and compete on every ball," he added. Earlier, Team India players arrived at the venue for the practice session. Ahead of the game, management will expect Abhishek Sharma to deliver big performances against the "Three Lions". The left-handed batsman is struggling to find himself among the runs. So far, having played six matches, he has managed to score 80 runs, with a top score of 55 runs. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan is having a decent run in the ongoing global showpiece. Donning the Indian jersey in seven games, he has accumulated 224 runs, with a top score of 77 runs. Despite a fine run, he has been dropped to the number three position in the batting lineup. Sanju Samson has moved upto the opening slot along with Abhishek. Team India's think tank will also expect Suryakumar Yadav's deputy, Axar Patel, to score crucial runs down the order. The 32-year-old cricketer will also look to strike important wickets for the "Men in Blue" in the semi-final 2. T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs ENG: Full Squads India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma. England: Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jos Buttler (WK), Jamie Overton, Ben Duckett, Jofra Archer, Luke Wood, Sam Curran, Phil Salt (WK), Josh Tongue, Harry Brook (C), Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Jacob Bethell, Rehan Ahmed. (With PTI Inputs)
04 March,2026 05:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India is set to lock horns with England in the semi-final 2 of the T20 World Cup 2026. The match is scheduled to be played on March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Ahead of the clash, Team India players paid a visit to the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai. Team India's vice-captain Axar Patel, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan were seen performing rituals in the temple. PHOTO | Members of the Indian cricket team paid a visit to Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai ahead of their semi-finals against England tomorrow.Source: Third Party pic.twitter.com/9UH7RgtlBW — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 4, 2026 Team India's management will expect Abhishek to deliver big performances against the "Three Lions". The left-handed batsman is struggling to find himself among the runs. So far, having played six matches, he has managed to score 80 runs, with a top score of 55 runs. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan is having a decent run in the ongoing global showpiece. Donning the Indian jersey in seven games, he has accumulated 224 runs, with a top score of 77 runs. Despite a fine run, he has been dropped to the number three position in the batting lineup. Sanju Samson has moved upto the opening slot along with Abhishek. Team India's think tank will also expect Suryakumar Yadav's deputy, Axar, to score crucial runs down the order. The 32-year-old cricketer will also look to strike important wickets for the "Men in Blue" in the semi-final 2. Before the clash between Team India and England, the cricket fans will witness semi-final 1 between South Africa and New Zealand. The match will be played on March 4 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs ENG: Full Squads India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma. England: Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jos Buttler (WK), Jamie Overton, Ben Duckett, Jofra Archer, Luke Wood, Sam Curran, Phil Salt (WK), Josh Tongue, Harry Brook (C), Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Jacob Bethell, Rehan Ahmed.
04 March,2026 04:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 has shattered all broadcasting records. The marquee Men's Cricket event has crossed 500 million viewership mark, the highest ever for any T20 World Cup in history. Now with the business end of the tournament coming up, the fan engagement is set to grow. Along with 500 Million plus viewers, JioHotstar reached a peak of 60.5 million concurrent viewers, demonstrating that the depth of engagement has surpassed the sheer number of watchers. This unprecedented viewership is largely due to ICC's commitment to inclusivity and coverage in multiple languages. Along with multi-lingual commentary, the introduction of Indian Sign Language feeds for key matches made sure that the game was for everyone. Jay Shah Tweet The journey of the @ICC #T20WorldCup 2026 began with the ambition to make it the most #global & #accessible Cricket event ever. I am humbled that viewership for the event in India has crossed 500 million, the highest ever for any T20 World Cup in history. It was also heartening… — Jay Shah (@JayShah) March 4, 2026 While the broadcasting aspect of the tournament was inclusive for all, the on-field action was unmissable. The associate nations put on a show with Nepal almost defeating the former champions England, and debutants Italy registering their first-ever win. Tournament favorites Australia lost to minnows Zimbabwe adding to the thrill and intrugue to the event. With the knock-out phase of the tournament starting on Wednesday, the viewership is set to further grow. With four countries from four different continents battling it out in India, the atmosphere is set to be electric and viewership records set to tumble further. These historic numbers continue to be driven by the love of the fans, proving that the game truly has no bounds when it is made available to everyone.
04 March,2026 03:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIndia skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s childhood coach Ashok Aswalkar believes his ward will be under no pressure going into the T20 World Cup semi-final against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. “I don’t think there is any pressure on Surya in the semis. There was pressure during the game against West Indies to qualify for the semis, but the team did well thanks to Sanju Samson’s brilliant unbeaten 97. Surya was struggling for runs until the recent New Zealand T20I series [he scored 242 runs in five games vs NZ with three half-centuries], but now he is batting well and I have no doubt about his form or intent,” Aswalkar told mid-day on Tuesday. Ashok Aswalkar Mumbai boy Suryakumar began this campaign with a match-winning 49-ball 84 not out against USA at the same venue on February 7. However, the attacking batter has failed to register a half-century in the next six games. Suryakumar though leads India’s batting charts with 231 runs in seven matches, and Aswalkar feels a big knock is just around the corner. “The way Samson played in the last game, his innings was top-class. I feel such a dominating top-class innings is due from Surya in this crucial game. He’s capable of doing it because he knows every corner of this ground and understands exactly how the Wankhede pitch behaves. And that’s a big plus for him and Team India,” Aswalkar said. The coach’s confidence stems from the fact that Suryakumar scored a fine T20I century (117) against England at Nottingham in 2022. “This is Surya’s home ground and England are among his favourite teams to bat against. I would advise him to start his innings by playing in the ‘V’ [the straight region between mid-on and mid-off]. He is a champion batter when he plays in that area. Later, he can play his innovative shots on the leg side, which will become easier. He should begin with singles and doubles, and then enjoy his big hits at his favourite ground,” Aswalkar signed off.
04 March,2026 12:26 PM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureIndian head coach Gautam Gambhir has said that the team will not hide away from the pressure of knockouts ahead of India's semi-final clash against the two-time champions England at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. "One thing is very clear, make sure that we don't hide away from the pressure. We embrace it, we face it, and if at any time we feel we are under pressure, make sure we take the positive route. Enjoy playing this game, this is what you play this game for, this sport for, this is what you've played all your life," Gambhir said in a video released by BCCI. Gambhir, who was part of India's 2007 and 2011 World Cup-winning squad, also embraced the pressure of playing a knockout match at home ground. He advised the team to maintain a positive attitude and be brave when they face England. "Games like this at home, knockout kind of a game, so make sure we go out there excited, not any under pressure. Anytime for the next 40 overs, if you feel the pressure, make sure we take the positive route. Okay, be brave, be courageous, enjoy it, enjoy playing for the country and most importantly, enjoy playing for each other," Gambhir said. "Okay, good luck. Skip. Good energy. Let's go, boys, let's go. Let's go," Gambhir added. India and England, one of cricket’s oldest rivalries, will add one more chapter with this clash. But, this is not the first time they have gone toe-to-toe against each other. Both teams are facing each other in a semi-final for the third straight time. The two sides first met at the semifinal stage of the T20 World Cup in 2022 in Australia, in which England registered a dominating 10-wicket win. Team met again in the 2024 World Cup when India made a comeback and registered a dominating 68-run win. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 March,2026 09:02 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSThis cricket-crazy city, still basking in the afterglow of Sanju Samson’s masterclass and India’s passage to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup on Sunday, will be hoping for a proper contest when South Africa and New Zealand joust here on Wednesday for a berth in the final. The unbeaten Proteas, with seven victories on the trot, including emphatic ones over India and the Kiwis, will strut into the Eden Gardens as firm favourites, and it’s up to the Black Caps to make a match of it. “It’s another day and it’s a knockout,” reminded Mitchell Santner, brushing aside suggestions that the Kiwis are rank outsiders. Aiden Markram too is averse to counting his chickens right now. “Both teams have played a lot of cricket since then [group stage where SA beat NZ], and it’s a completely fresh start,” the South African skipper said. NZ skipper Mitchell Santner in Kolkata on Tuesday. Pic/PTI Markram has led from the front, scoring consistently to be among the top run-getters while chipping in with crucial wickets with his off-spin. Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis and David Miller have all bolstered the batting, where the likes of Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen have also used the long handle to telling effect. On a batting-friendly wicket and quick outfield, Santner & Co will have their task cut out. Early wickets would be a key but, then, the Proteas have shown they can wriggle out of tight situations with calm and a clobber too. New Zealand must also tweak their approach on a wicket that’s very different from the slow spinning tracks of Colombo. Though Keshav Maharaj and Markram present adequate spin options, it’s the searing pace of Kagiso Rabada and disconcerting bounce of Jansen along with the pace-off deception of Lungi Ngidi that has helped them. Also, there’s Corbin Bosch with his toe crushers at the death. The Kiwis meanwhile, in Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell have a powerful batting line-up, but it hasn’t quite fired yet. Pacer Matt Henry, who arrived here on Tuesday after a short trip home, is expected to play and Santner, with his tight left-arm spin, could be crucial. However, they will need a collective lift to stop this South African juggernaut. 07No. of consecutive T20I wins for SA 12-7South Africa’s win-loss record against NZ in 19 T20Is 5-0SA’s win-loss record against NZ at T20 World Cups
04 March,2026 09:01 AM IST | Kolkata | Arup ChatterjeeIndia batting great Sunil Gavaskar has picked South Africa and England as the teams to make it to the final of the ICC T20 World Cup since they are the only sides to remain unbeaten in the Super Eights stage of the tournament. South Africa and England have won all three of their respective matches in the Super Eights. In fact, SA are yet to lose in the tournament and are on a seven-match winning streak. England, on the other hand, only lost their second Group stage match to West Indies. When asked who he feels will make the final, Gavaskar, 76, didn’t pick India. “In a T20, the game can change in an over or so, but if you look at the form going into the semis, you will see that SA and England have won all their matches in the Super Eights, while India and New Zealand have lost one each. So, you would say that those two teams [SA and England] are favourites to get into the final,” Gavaskar told mid-day during a media interaction ahead of the DP World Celebrity Golf Event in Mumbai on March 6 to create awareness on the Champs Foundation. However, the former India skipper, who scored 10,122 runs in 125 Tests, admitted that the hosts are peaking at the right time with the injection of Sanju Samson as opener. “Sometimes, you have a situation where the pieces are falling into the right place. I believe Rinku Singh’s father’s illness at that stage, and because he was away, made the opening for Sanju Samson to be brought into the team in Chennai [vs Zimbabwe]. He, along with Abhishek Sharma, got the team off to a start of over 40 runs. In all the matches till then, one of the openers, either Abhishek or Ishan Kishan, had got out for a duck. That partnership [Abhishek and Samson] steadied the Indian innings. So, the pieces have certainly fallen into place and I think England are peaking and India are also peaking,” Gavaskar signed off.
04 March,2026 09:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Karan ShankarSanju Samson was the obvious differentiator, his poise and purpose propelling the Indian ship. But Sunday at Eden Gardens wasn’t only about the 31-year-old, even if it understandably seems so. India did so much right in their virtual quarter-final against the free-spirited West Indies, who were also in the race for the final semi-final slot at the T20 World Cup. Once Suryakumar Yadav hit it lucky at the toss — the Indian captain’s poor record met its match in his West Indian counterpart Shai Hope, who won only one out of seven at the World Cup — India stuck to their guns, refusing to be intimidated by the heavy artillery percolating through the Caribbean ranks. The ploy to place their faith in only five bowling options could have backfired had even one of them had an off-day. Fortunately for the think-tank, no one went the distance which meant they could use Jasprit Bumrah the way they wanted to. Bumrah bowled three of the last ten overs and even though 195 for four was a competitive total, it was still manageable. The big blip, however, was another lethargic fielding display; three catches dropped, a run out missed and misfields galore made for an unedifying spectacle which could be punished ruthlessly by a less forgiving side like England in Thursday’s semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium. India bat till No. 8 and sometimes, the tendency might be to leave it to the others might creep in subconsciously. But Samson was taking no chances, playing the innings of a lifetime, a knock that was flawless in planning and impeccable in execution. He was both the glue and the guiding light, scoring at nearly two runs a ball without taking undue risks and not going into his shell even when a wicket fell. All the accolades were reserved, rightly, for Samson as India set up a semi-final with England for the third T20 World Cup in a row. GR Vishwanath made an unbeaten 97 on a spicy Chepauk deck against Andy Robert’s and Co in 1974, a knock still remembered with awe and reverence. Samson’s 97 not out may not attract the same emotions, but its value is no less than what the wristy magician conjured. 194Sanju Samson’s strike-rate vs WI
04 March,2026 08:53 AM IST | Mumbai | R KaushikThis is a tale of two English captains. One, who is currently leading from the front, while the other, who is battling for form. Former champions England will rely on the form of their skipper Harry Brook, 27, as they take on defending champions India in the T20 World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, even as their ex-captain Jos Buttler’s poor form remains a matter of concern. England bowling all-rounder Sam Curran, however, has backed Butler to come good against the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team. Buttler has scored just 62 runs in seven games so far, while Brook has hammered 228 runs, including a match-winning 51-ball 100 against Pakistan at Pallekele last week. “I think the responsibility he [Brook] took the other day against Pakistan, when he came out and got 100 off 51 balls to put us straight into the semi-finals, shows what a quality player he is. And what a great time to find form as well. He’s one of the world’s best players when he gets going. Hopefully, for him and for us as a team, we can come together on Thursday night and have a cracking game,” Curran said during the press conference on Tuesday. Sam Curran Unlike Brook, Buttler, 35, who has scored over 4000 T20I runs, has failed to reach double figures in his last five games of this World Cup. However, Curran insisted that the opening wicketkeeper-batter can bounce back against India. “I’d certainly rather have Jos Buttler in my team than face him on Thursday night. He’s a quality player and has delivered for us over many years. He’s done well at this ground too. Hopefully, Thursday will be his night. But regardless, he’s one of the best in the world,” added Curran, who has six wickets and 149 runs from seven games in this tournament.
04 March,2026 08:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureCricketers are known for their superstitions. And Team India’s practice session at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, originally scheduled from 6pm to 9pm, was postponed by an hour owing to a lunar eclipse. The eclipse lasted from 03.20pm to 06.47pm and it is traditionally believed that people should not do any good thing during this period. In fact, right up to the time the Indian team arrived at the ground (a few minutes before 7pm) the floodlights at the venue had been kept off. As soon as the team arrived, skipper Suryakumar and head coach Gautam Gambhir straightaway went to take a closer look at the pitch and spent a few minutes observing the surface. Pacers Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube bowled to Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, while Jasprit Bumrah spent around half-an-hour doing some spot-bowling at a nearby net. Interestingly, all-rounder Hardik Pandya was among the first to bat, while attacking opener Abhishek Sharma began by bowling his left-arm spin and then taking high catches near the boundary rope. He also did some batting and was seen playing some big shots in the ‘V’.
04 March,2026 08:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureADVERTISEMENT
