All eyes are on the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026, where India will face England in a high-voltage clash at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5. Just a few hours before the India vs England semifinal, there is a big update on the playing XI.
There was noise that the struggling young Indian opener Abhishek Sharma is likely to be dropped for the knockout game against England following his poor performance in the tournament.
But the latest developments suggest that the Indian cricket team management is likely to stick with the same combination that defeated the West Indies in their last Super 8 game in Chennai.
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India likely to back the same winning XI for the England semi-final
As reported by the Indian Express, the Men in Blue are expected to go into the semi-final with an unchanged playing XI. The team management is happy with the balance of the side after the thrilling win over the West Indies in Kolkata, and they do not want to disturb the momentum at this stage.
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This means the same group of players could take the field against England in the semifinal clash. The management believes the current combination has delivered well under pressure and deserves another opportunity in the big game, meaning there is no threat to Abhishek Sharma’s place.
Dew to play key role in India vs England SF
The India vs England semifinal will be played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, where conditions could play a big role. The Indian team closely inspected the pitch for two days before the match to understand how it might behave during the game.
Weather conditions in Mumbai have been extremely hot and humid in the last few days. Because of this, heavy dew is expected during the night match, and that can make the ball slippery and make chasing easier for the batting side on Thursday.
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Dew was already visible on the ground during England’s practice session on Wednesday evening. If the conditions are the same on the game day, the toss could become very important, as both teams may prefer to bowl first and chase under easier batting conditions at the Wankhede Stadium.
Batter’s strength can also be his weakness on this surface: Morne Morkel
Even India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel expressed concern about the potential impact of dew. He said at the pre-match press conference, “I think dew is always a big concern. But that’s again something you can’t control: the toss. I think at Wankhede there’s always that extra bit of bounce. Guys can trust the bounce and play through the line, which can also, as a bowler, bring you into the game.”
Morkel added, “I just feel the margins here are a lot smaller. The ball travels; it’s quite a small ground. So, you just need to keep fighting through each over, staying in the moment and competing for every ball. Because, as I said, a batter’s strength can also be his weakness on this surface. Sometimes it’s better not to go too defensive but to keep attacking, as opportunities can arise.”
