IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-final: “We wanted to bat first,” says Suryakumar Yadav despite England winning toss

India captain Suryakumar Yadav said his side was keen to bat first in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5. However, England captain Harry Brook won the toss and opted to field, putting India into bat in the high-stakes knockout clash.

Speaking at the toss, Suryakumar explained that India preferred to set a target considering the match conditions and the importance of the semi-final.

“We were looking to bat first. Semifinal, big game, and there’s wind around too. Don’t think there will be much dew,” Suryakumar Yadav said.

England captain Harry Brook said his side chose to bowl after assessing the surface and hoping to take advantage early with the ball.

“We’re going to have a bowl. Looks like a good wicket, hopefully we can get off to a good start with the ball. They’ve obviously got a lot more experience on this ground than us. T20 cricket is such a fickle game, you never know what’s going to happen,” Brook said.

Brook also confirmed one change in England’s playing XI, with Craig Overton coming into the side in place of Rehan Ahmed.

The match is being played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where conditions are expected to remain warm with a light breeze blowing across the ground. The surface is reported to be slightly harder with a bit of grass, which could allow the ball to come nicely onto the bat while still offering some assistance to bowlers early in the innings.

The winner of this semi-final will advance to the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.