For the third successive T20 World Cup, England and India meet in the semi-finals. Andy Schooler previews Thursday’s big showdown in Mumbai.
T20 World Cup 2026: India v England
T20 World Cup 2026: India v England
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India
Date/Time: Thursday March 5, 1330 GMT
TV: Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event
Beating India on their own turf is one of the toughest tasks in cricket but it’s one England have to face in Thursday’s T20 World Cup semi-final. This is the third successive ICC T20 tournament at which these two have met in the last four and so perhaps England can take something from their dominant 10-wicket win in 2022. India won the rematch two years ago with both matches held on neutral soil. This one, however, is in Mumbai where the home crowd will bring huge noise and excitement.
T20 World 2026: India Deserved Favs
Both sides played here during the initial group stage, India beating USA, while England scraped past Nepal before losing to West Indies. It is a venue at which West Indies racked up 254 in the last match staged here. England have improved as the tournament has worn on and went on to top their Super 8s group. Given that, they probably didn’t expect India to be awaiting them in the semis. However, India stumbled when facing South Africa last week – dismissed for just 111 to lose by 76 runs. A thumping, really.
While India are undoubtedly the correct favourites – aside from that SA game, they’ve looked majestic with the bat – you could argue England are a little overpriced at 2.45. However, as a potential backer of those odds, I think you’d have to be concerned with how England have batted at the top of the order where both Phil Salt and Jos Buttler have struggled.
They will need their main men to fire in a game of this magnitude but the signs aren’t great with Salt having fallen for two or less in four of his seven innings at the tournament, while Buttler hasn’t made it past 26, with his last five scores all in single figures. That combination means England have struggled to produce an opening partnership of note – so far, the first-wicket stands have been 2-0-16-21-2-38-5.
T20 World Cup 2026: Bank on Jacks
I’m surprised to see their first dismissal line as high as 24.5 – as you can see, they’ve beaten that mark only once – and will happily play the unders. England’s struggles up top have also opened up opportunities for some of those at a bigger price in the England top batter market. Harry Brook has moved up to three during the course of the tournament, making 100 against Pakistan to move top of the England runchart.
However, the next man on that list is Will Jacks, who has batted at seven. Now, it’s always risky backing a player who bats that far down in this market but the fact is he won thanks to 53 not out against Italy, while in the three Super 8s games, he finished runner-up each time with scores of 32-28-21. If England do face early trouble again, Jacks, who has also been impressive with the ball, has the confidence and form to outperform odds of 10.5 and is worth a small punt.
T20 World Cup 2026: India v England Tips
England total at 1st dismissal under 24.5 @ 1.8 with kwiff
Jacks England top batter @ 10.5 with kwiff
By Andy Schooler
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