One of the oldest rivalries in cricket, India and England, will add another chapter with this match. But, this is not the first time that they are face to face with each other. Both the teams are facing each other in the semi-finals for the third consecutive time in the T20 World Cup.
For the last two World Cups, the winner of the England vs India semi-final match has won the trophy.
The Men in Blue made it to the top four for the first time in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007, where they defeated Australia by 15 runs in Durban to book a place in the final against arch-rivals Pakistan.
India scored 157/5 in 20 overs, thanks to an inning of 75 runs by current head coach Gautam Gambhir. Later, due to the brilliant bowling performance of RP Singh and Irfan Pathan, the then MS Dhoni’s team won its first T20 World Cup title by defeating its neighboring country in Johannesburg.
The 2007 champion team could not reach the top four in the next three editions in 2009, 2010 and 2012. He played his second T20 World Cup semi-final in 2014, where Virat Kohli’s 72 not out helped India overcome the challenge against South Africa in Mirpur.
India played their second final of the tournament against Sri Lanka at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, in which Kohli played another memorable inning of 77 runs off 58 balls. However, the efforts went in vain as the Islanders chased down the target of 131 runs in 17.5 overs and Dhoni and Co. faced defeat.
Team India reached its second consecutive semi-final in the 2016 World Cup, their home World Cup, but lost to eventual champions West Indies by seven wickets in Mumbai.
Their fourth semi-final occurred in 2022, when the tournament was hosted by then-defending champions Australia. This was the first time that India faced England in a T20 World Cup knockout game.
England restricted India to 168/6 after bowling first, with Virat Kohli scoring a half-century and Hardik Pandya scoring 63 off 33 balls, while Chris Jordan took three wickets. In reply, England openers Alex Hales and Jos Buttler chased down the target without losing any wicket and achieved a massive win by 10 wickets with four overs to spare, handing India a crushing defeat and then winning the title by defeating Pakistan in the final.
The two teams met again for the second consecutive semi-final in the 2024 edition of the tournament co-hosted by the USA and West Indies. This time, India had a chance to settle the scores and avenge the 2022 defeat. Batting first, India scored 171/20 in 20 overs with the help of Rohit Sharma’s 57 runs, with key contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (47) and Hardik Pandya (23 off 13 balls).
England faltered in the chase and were all out for 103 in 16.4 overs, with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav taking three wickets each and Jasprit Bumrah taking two wickets. India won by 68 runs and defeated South Africa in the final to lift their second T20 World Cup title.
Now both the teams will face each other in the third consecutive T20 World Cup semi-final. Pitch Report:
The Wankhede Stadium pitch is generally considered favorable for batsmen and the T20 format often results in high-scoring contests. The realistic bounce and fast outfield allow stroke makers to play their shots with ease, with first innings totals usually ranging between 190 and 220 runs. While spinners may not get much help from the pitch, fast bowlers who maintain disciplined lines and lengths – especially with variations – can still make an impact.
Weather Report:
Clear skies are expected for the semi-finals in Mumbai, and conditions are expected to be perfect for cricket. The daytime temperature is likely to range between 27 and 37 degrees Celsius, while humidity levels may exceed 60 percent, which is common in the coastal areas of the city. Rain is not expected to interrupt play, allowing the match to be played in good weather.
Teams:
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakraborty, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.
Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethel, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacques, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Ben Duckett.
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