Suryakumar Yadav and Harry Brook (Image credit: Agencies)

India and England have each lifted the T20 World Cup twice, and their rivalry in the semifinals has been perfectly balanced so far — one win apiece. Interestingly, on both occasions, the team that won the semifinal went on to clinch the title.Now, as the two heavyweights prepare for their third semifinal meeting in three editions at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, history beckons. The winner will have a shot at becoming the first nation to claim the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title three times. Alongside India and England, only the West Indies boast two trophies.

England triumphed in the 2022 semifinal, crushing India by 10 wickets before defeating Pakistan in the final. India returned the favour in 2024, overcoming England in the last four and then edging South Africa in a tense summit clash to secure their second crown.Who prevails this time? While conditions and numbers may slightly favour India, England’s big-match temperament makes them equally formidable.Overall, the two sides have met 29 times in T20Is, with India winning 17 and England 12. India are chasing further milestones — becoming the first team to defend a T20 World Cup title and the first host nation to lift the trophy.Their contests have rarely lacked intensity, and Thursday promises to be no different, with both teams expected to go all out.The journeys to the semifinals have been contrasting. England were the first to qualify, finishing unbeaten in Group 2 of the Super 8s with five consecutive wins. India, meanwhile, suffered a defeat to South Africa and only sealed their spot with a dramatic must-win victory over the West Indies.Earlier in the league stage, India topped Group A with a flawless record, while England finished second in Pool C after a loss to the Caribbean side.Though the semifinal will write a fresh script, memories at Wankhede add emotional weight for the hosts — from MS Dhoni’s iconic six to seal the 2011 ODI World Cup to Sachin Tendulkar’s teammates carrying him on their shoulders in celebration.India’s campaign has been defined by different match-winners stepping up at crucial moments. Abhishek Sharma struck his maiden fifty of the tournament in the Super 8s, while Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97 in the must-win clash against West Indies proved decisive. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav set the tone early with a brilliant 84 against USA, and contributions from Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya have strengthened the batting unit. Suryakumar leads the scoring charts for India with 231 runs, followed by Ishan with 217.The bowling attack has been equally collective. Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, Hardik and Kuldeep Yadav have all chipped in with key breakthroughs, with Chakravarthy leading the wicket tally with 12 scalps. No single player has dominated consistently — but that shared responsibility has powered India’s run.England’s story mirrors that pattern. They too have relied on collective effort rather than individual brilliance. Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks and captain Harry Brook have delivered vital contributions, even as Jos Buttler searches for top form. Brook tops their scoring list with 228 runs. With the ball, Adil Rashid has been their standout performer, claiming 11 wickets so far.The Wankhede pitch is expected to assist seamers early before settling into a batting-friendly surface. With hot and sunny conditions forecast and dew likely later in the evening, the toss could play a role, tempting captains to bowl first.Both teams appear settled after seven matches and are unlikely to tinker with their combinations. For India, that means another opportunity for Sanju Samson to build on his momentum.With over 35,000 fans expected to pack the stands, Wankhede will be a cauldron of noise. Under the lights, in front of a roaring home crowd, the side that holds its nerve will march into the final in Ahmedabad.Probable playing XIs:India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit BumrahEngland: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

NEW DELHI: The Governing Council of the Indian Premier League has cleared the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule, with the fixtures expected to be officially announced on March 6 or 7, according to a report by Cricbuzz.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The decision was taken during an online GC meeting on Monday, where it was decided that the Season 19 schedule would be released in two phases. The first set of fixtures, covering approximately the opening 13 to 14 days, is likely to be unveiled later this week.

As per the same report, the tournament opener is set to be held at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Royal Challengers Bengaluru confirmed on Tuesday that they will play five home matches at the venue. As per tradition, the defending champions host the opening match, and that convention appears set to continue. Karnataka State Cricket Association secretary Santosh Menon also confirmed that the Chinnaswamy Stadium will stage a playoff fixture as well as the final.While RCB’s opening opponents are yet to be finalised, an earlier Cricbuzz report had indicated that the start of the season could be pushed back slightly, with March 28 or 29 emerging as probable dates. The final, as previously announced, is scheduled for May 31.In a recent communication to franchises, BCCI acting CEO and IPL COO Hemang Amin conveyed that practice session guidelines would be shared next week. Franchises were also informed that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for overseas players would be issued collectively in the coming days.The delay in releasing the full schedule is linked to the pending announcement of Assembly election dates in West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu. With limited time before the season begins, the BCCI has opted for a staggered release — a strategy previously adopted during election years.

Abhishek Sharma (Pic credit: BCCI)

Back at the Wankhede, Team India opener will hope to rediscover fearless touch at the venue where he smashed 135 vs England last yearMUMBAI: Given the way Abhishek Sharma punished everything bowled at him in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, he was tipped to light up the tournament. It also meant opposition teams went the extra mile to probe for chinks in his armour.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Barring the Zimbabwe game — where the left-hander struck a half-century — rivals have largely succeeded in keeping him quiet. His scores read 0, 0, 0, 15, 55 and 10. Yet the team management have shown faith in the 25-year-old, backing him despite his visible dip in confidence. With the semifinal against England on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium, changes in the starting XI look unlikely.

India trained in full strength on Tuesday, with players spending considerable time across the four nets at the venue. Abhishek was the last among the playing XI batters to pad up, facing mostly net bowlers, with Arshdeep Singh and Tilak Varma the only regulars to bowl at him. He faced a leg-spinner, two off-spinners — operating from both sides of the crease and bowling back of a length — and a couple of right-arm pacers.The Sunrisers Hyderabad opener focused on playing as straight as possible, a routine he has adopted after his early struggles in the tournament. His six dismissals so far show a clear pattern. Teams have tried to block his scoring zones, cramp him for room and take pace off the ball.Against Pakistan, Netherlands and West Indies, he fell to spinners firing in back-of-a-length darts into middle and leg, keeping the ball out of his arc as he attempted to pull or hoick towards the leg side. Against South Africa and Zimbabwe, slower deliveries from pacers deceived him, resulting in miscued shots.A high-risk approach carries its own perils and altering it overnight is never easy. However, there were signs of adjustment during his 30-ball 55 against Zimbabwe — the second slowest fifty of his T20I career — where he showed greater intent to play with a straight bat.Off-spinners Salman Agha and Aryan Dutt have troubled him, so it will be interesting to see if England use Will Jacks early, even though India have tried to balance their left-heavy top order with the inclusion of Sanju Samson.For Abhishek, the immediate challenge will be to shelve the pull shot against spinners in the early stages and devise a plan for back-of-length deliveries. He could, for instance, take a leaf out of Samson’s playbook against West Indies — creating room to cut square of the wicket or stepping inside the line to access the leg side. Experts believe he should trust his natural instincts but give himself time at the crease before shifting gears.Just over a year ago, Abhishek hammered a 54-ball 135 — his highest T20I score and second century — against England at the Wankhede, facing an attack that included Jofra Archer, Jamie Overton and Adil Rashid. The Indian think tank will hope he can draw inspiration from that innings and rediscover the fearless strokeplay that once made him the toast of Indian cricket.

NEW DELHI: Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu returned to India after being stranded in Dubai since February 28 following the closure of airspace in West Asia due to escalating conflict in the region. As a result, she had to give the All England Badminton, which began on Tuesday in Birmingham, a miss.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!On Tuesday, Sindhu informed that she might also miss the Yonex Swiss Open, a Super 300 event in Basel scheduled from March 10 to 15, due to curtailed flight operations across the Gulf region and the unavailability of tickets on most airlines. The tournament carries a prize purse of $250,000 (approx Rs 2.1 cr).“Swiss Open is definitely a target. But as I speak, all the flights are going full. I have been trying every day to book myself on one of them, but there are no tickets available. Everything is via Dubai and it’s been a challenge. We all know taking the Dubai flight route is risky. Let’s see what happens in the next few days,” Sindhu said in a media interaction facilitated by SAI.“I am searching for options but nothing has been working out so far. I have to also think about my coach (Indonesian Irwansyah Adi Pratama) and his safety.” Sindhu said that the Badminton World Federation has waived a financial penalty of $5,000 for her no-show at the All England, acknowledging the extraordinary situation. However, discussions around a possible loss of her ranking points ahead of a season involving the CWG, Asian Games and World Championships, are ongoing, with Sindhu expecting an amicable solution due to “extraordinary circumstances”.“There are BWF regulations in place for skipping a Super 1000 or Super 750 tournaments by top-ranked players. If the world body doesn’t find the reasons valid, they would fine a player $5,000. I wrote a mail to BWF from Dubai. They understood my situation, as probably it was the first time that such a thing happened and waived off my penalty. That was one relief.“About the ranking points, they told me to send a collaborative mail detailing my circumstances. I’m waiting for their response. They will convey the decision in a day’s time,” said Sindhu, who is also a member of BWF’s Athletes Commission.“I just pray it was the first time and the last time I experience something like this. It’s going to be hard (to forget). You train so hard and then something completely beyond your control prevents you from competing in a big event.”

BCCI President Mithun Manhas (R) with Auqib Nabi of Jammu & Kashmir after they won the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy title. (PTI)

For Mithun Manhas, the sight of Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra lifting the Ranji Trophy was more than a ceremonial moment.Manhas has his roots in the state. He was born there, grew up there and studied there, and ended his first-class career playing for Jammu and Kashmir. He was later part of the sub-committee appointed by the BCCI to run the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA). A giant of Indian domestic cricket, Manhas played from 1997-98 to 2016-17 in 157 first-class matches, scoring 9,714 runs, and was pivotal in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy win in 2007-08, amassing 921 runs that season.

Manhas today stands at the helm of Indian cricket administration as BCCI president. But his emotional investment in J&K cricket runs deeper than designation. In this candid conversation with TimesofIndia.com, Manhas speaks about redemption, reform, Auqib Nabi’s rise, infrastructure challenges, and why belief remains the most powerful force in cricket.Excerpts:You have been a domestic giant and won the Ranji Trophy for Delhi. You ended your glittering career with J&K and have your roots in the state as well. What was going through your mind while handing over the trophy to Paras Dogra?Emotions were running high. That is natural when you put in so much effort. The journey began in 2021 when the sub-committee was appointed in June. From there, the work started. We began from scratch and gradually built ourselves up.I am very thankful to Jay Shah for supporting us throughout these four years. He was the secretary then and the first person in 67 years of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association to personally visit the grounds. He saw the ground reality, met players, coaches and staff. From there, things began to fall into place.Paras has been a seasoned campaigner for over two decades. We brought him in because he understands similar conditions, having played a lot of cricket in Himachal and in England as a professional. He brings calmness and commands respect in the dressing room.

BCCI President Mithun Manhas (L), secretary Devajit Saikia (R) hand over the Ranji Trophy title to J&K’s Paras Dogra. (PTI)

Cricket has a way of giving it back. You were a stalwart of domestic cricket and were probably born in the wrong era. Did it feel like a redemption?Not really. That chapter is in the background now. This is a new role and a new opportunity. I see it from a completely different perspective. When results come and favour your team, you feel satisfied.We faced criticism while making changes, and that is bound to happen. Change is not easily accepted. But evolution is constant. We believed we were on the right track, and fortunately, the results followed.Where was Aquib Nabi all these years?Since we began in 2021, he has been part of our set-up and a regular member of the team. Not just him, there are others as well.Auqib has been phenomenal this year. He has done exceedingly well and even scored a hundred in the limited-overs format. He is a complete player who has gone through the grind of domestic cricket. Any youngster listening to me should play at least two or three seasons of first-class cricket. Go through the grind and you will become a better player.

Auqib Nabi (PTI Photo)

People say you brought discipline to J&K cricket. Someone once told me that a couple of IPL players came late for training and you gave them a proper dressing down…The sub-committee was formed after careful thought. Brigadier Anil Gupta has 35 years of administrative experience. My roots are in J&K. It was a strong combination.When a couple of players came late, I took them to task. It is not about me. If you come late, you disrespect teammates who are on time. Mutual respect is essential for growth.Earlier, belief was missing. There was too much changing and chopping. Around 25 to 35 players would feature in a single Ranji season. You cannot expect results with constant changes. That had to stop. Players, support staff, selectors and the CAC were given continuity. Stability brings results.Most of the boys in J&K have played cricket growing up on turf wicket. After October and November, it is hard to play cricket in most of J&K. Is there any infrastructure upgrade in the pipeline?We have spoken to the BCCI and they have been supportive. However, building a stadium is the association’s prerogative. Elections have just been held and soon a full-fledged association will be in place.In 67 years of affiliation, we do not own assets. In Jammu, practice happens at a college ground. In Srinagar, we use the Sher-e-Kashmir ground, which is not ours. We need infrastructure not only in Jammu and Srinagar but also in Rajouri, Poonch and the Chenab Valley. Players come from diverse regions and must be given proper facilities.You were one of the finest when it comes to playing spin. Do youngsters come to you for tips?They may be a little hesitant to approach me (smiles). But whenever I see a youngster’s video, whether from the senior or junior team, I speak to them and share my experience. I offer pointers that suit their game.Lastly, on the Indian team, do you think Suryakumar Yadav-led India will win the T20 World Cup?Everyone knows our team is strong. We had one off day against South Africa and people began to panic. There is no need for that. It is a World Cup and pressure is natural. Back the boys instead of criticising them. I am confident they will bring the trophy home.

India and England will meet again in a T20 World Cup semi-final when they face off in the second last-four clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It is the third straight edition in which the two teams have squared off at this stage, after also meeting in the semi-finals in 2022 and 2024.Their recent history adds context to the contest. In 2022, England ended India’s campaign in the semi-final and went on to defeat Pakistan in the final to win the title. In 2024, India reversed that result under Rohit Sharma, beating England in the semi-final before defeating South Africa in the final in Barbados to lift the trophy.

In both those editions, the team that won the India-England semi-final went on to become world champion, adding significance to Thursday’s match.England have played six T20 Internationals at the Wankhede Stadium, winning three and losing three. India have played seven T20Is at the venue and won five. India have not lost a T20I there since December 2017. Their two defeats in Mumbai came against West Indies in 2016 and against England in 2012. The two sides have met twice in T20Is at the Wankhede, with one win each.Overall, India and England have faced each other five times in the T20 World Cup. India have won three of those matches, while England have won two, reflecting a close contest between the teams in the tournament.One of the most remembered meetings came in the inaugural 2007 edition. During the group-stage match, Yuvraj Singh hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in one over after an exchange with Andrew Flintoff. It was the first time a batter hit six sixes in an over in T20 Internationals and remains one of the key moments in the tournament’s history.

Venue, time and streaming details-

T20 World Cup 2026 India vs England semifinal: VenueWankhede Stadium in Mumbai will host the second semi-final clash between India vs England \.T20 World Cup 2026 India vs England semifinal: TimeThe India vs England semifinal will begin 7:00 PM (IST) and 1:30 PM (GMT) with the toss taking place 30 minutes before the starting time on Sunday.T20 World Cup 2026 India vs England semifinal: Live TelecastLive television coverage of the India vs England ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final match will be available on the Star Sports Network.T20 World Cup 2026 India vs England semifinal: Live StreamingThe ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final between India vs England will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website.India vs England Head-to-Head Record in T20 World CupPlayed: 5India won: 3England won: 2India vs England Head-to-Head Record in T20 World Cup Semi-FinalsPlayed: 2India won: 1England won: 1

Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha, right, has a word with teammate Shaheen Shah Afridi during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Februrary 28, 2026. (AP)

Senior selection committee member Aleem Dar has resigned from his position with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the national team’s exit from the T20 World Cup, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday, quoting sources. His resignation comes after Pakistan failed to reach the semifinals of the tournament.“Former ICC elite panel umpire Dar has sent his resignation which is yet to be accepted,” a source close to the PCB was quoted as saying by PTI.

Dar serves on the selection committee alongside former Test cricketers Asad Shafiq and Aaqib Javed. As per the PTI report, Dar stepped down due to concerns over the authority given to head coach Mike Hesson in team selection decisions.“Aleem is very upset that when the World Cup squad was being selected he had resisted the inclusion of Babar Azam and Shadab Khan in the squad without any performance but Hesson insisted on having them,” the source was quoted as saying by PTI.The source added that Dar was surprised that captain Salman Agha and other selectors did not oppose the coach’s role in the process.“Aleem had also insisted that when Babar and Shadab could be called in without performance, Muhammad Rizwan should be included in place of Usman Khan because of his experience but no one supported him.”Pakistan lost to India in the group stage and then to England in the Super Eight stage, while their match against New Zealand was washed out. They defeated Sri Lanka in their final Super Eight fixture but still did not qualify for the semifinals.According to the PTI report, the team’s performance has caused concern within the PCB and among figures in the government.The PCB has also reportedly imposed fines of PKR 50 lakh on each player after the team failed to reach the semifinals. The Express Tribune reported on Monday that PCB “officials have clearly told the players that enough pampering has been done — from now on, financial benefits will only come with performance.”