Our Bureau
Mumbai
India and England gear up for a thrilling T20 World Cup semi-final clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. This match revives a fierce rivalry that has defined knockout stages in recent tournaments.
India and England have met twice before in T20 World Cup semi-finals, splitting wins 1-1. In 2022, England crushed India by 10 wickets and went on to win the title against Pakistan. Two years later in 2024, India turned the tables with a 68-run victory over England, then beat South Africa in the final to claim the cup.
A key trend stands out: the winner of each India-England semi-final has lifted the trophy. Fans wonder if this pattern will hold in 2026. India reached the semis after a strong Super 8 recovery, beating Zimbabwe and West Indies following a loss to South Africa. England topped their group with wins over Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and New Zealand.
India holds a 3-2 edge in five overall T20 World Cup meetings with England. At Wankhede, both teams have won three games each in T20Is. For India, Hardik Pandya leads semi-final scorers against England with 86 runs, including a fifty. Rohit Sharma has 84 runs.
England’s Jos Buttler tops their batting charts with 103 runs. Chris Jordan has taken six wickets for England in these semis, the most. India’s Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel share three wickets each.
Wankhede favors India, unbeaten there in T20Is since 2017. The crowd will roar for the hosts as they chase a repeat title. England must break the trend to reach the final. Expect fireworks in this high-stakes battle.