Team India can make changes in the playing XI against England today… eyes on Abhishek and Rinku

Mumbai. The second semi-final (Semi Finals 2) of India vs England T20 World Cup 2026 is to be played today i.e. Thursday, March 5 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India vs England semi-final will start at 7 pm Indian time, while for the toss both the captains – Suryakumar Yadav and Harry Brook – will take the field half an hour earlier i.e. at 6.30 pm. This is the third consecutive time in the T20 World Cup that the teams of India and England are clashing in the semi-finals.

The million dollar question is whether the Indian team will make changes in its playing 11 against England today. Because the matter of concern for Team India right now is the top order in the playing 11. It is good that Sanju Samson’s inning of 97 runs came in the Super-8 match against West Indies. Because in that match Abhishek Sharma was out (10 runs, 11 balls). In this way, India got its first blow on 29 runs. After this, Ishan Kishan also left after scoring 10 runs on the team’s score of 42 runs.

Keep in mind, Sanju’s re-entry in the T0 World Cup was in the Super-8 match against Zimbabwe (before that he played the only match against Namibia in Delhi due to Abhishek being ill), after that Ishan Kishan was demoted in the batting order, but Abhishek Sharma remained in the opening position.

Now the question is, will the Indian team change now that the opportunity is there for the semi-finals against England? Because the Indian team does not make much changes in its playing 11. Because if any change is not proved correct at this time, then the entire management along with the team will be under question.

Before the second semi-final between India and England to be played at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday (5 March), former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has given important opinion regarding the playing eleven. Shastri believes that the team management should consider a change keeping in mind the current form.

Shastri said that if the team management feels that Abhishek Sharma is not mentally comfortable and continuous low scores have affected his confidence, then a serious decision should be taken on this.

He said that this assessment should be done on the basis of his batting, body language and conversation in the nets. Abhishek Sharma has scored only 80 runs in 6 innings so far in the tournament. His average is 13.13 and strike rate is 131.15. In such a situation, his form before the knockout match remains a matter of concern.

Ishaan gets the role of opening, Rinku the role of finisher?

Shastri suggested that if a change is made, Ishan Kishan should open the innings with Sanju Samson. Along with this, Rinku Singh can be brought back in the playing eleven and included in the lower order. Ishan Kishan has scored 224 runs in 7 innings in this tournament. His average is 32 and strike rate is 185.13. The special thing is that both his half-centuries have come while opening. However, due to the return of Sanju Samson, Ishaan had to bat at number 3.

When Abhishek scored 135 runs in 54 balls in Wankhede

Abhishek Sharma’s previous record against England has been excellent. Last year, in the fifth T20 played at Wankhede, he played an explosive inning of 135 runs in 54 balls. When reminded of this innings, Shastri made it clear that his suggestion was only keeping in mind the current form and explosive options in the team’s batting. However, he also added that he is not in favor of completely excluding Abhishek. According to him, there is enough firepower in the Indian batting order and in such a situation the team can keep faith in Abhishek if they want.

Big decision before the semi-finals?

Now the focus will be on the team management whether it looks at experience and past record or takes a bold decision on the basis of current form. This match to be held in Wankhede, Mumbai will decide the ticket to the final for India, in such a situation the selection of playing eleven can prove to be very important.

India’s probable playing XI vs England: Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh/Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakraborty, Arshdeep Singh