New Delhi: India and England are set to lock horns in a T20 World Cup semifinal for the third successive time. Having played each other in the semifinals of the last two editions, the two teams will meet in the second semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 05.
India were dealt a huge blow in the race to the semifinals after a crushing 76-run defeat against South Africa in their Super Eight opener. However, the defending champions bounced back to beat Zimbabwe and West Indies in their next two games to reach their third consecutive semifinal.
England, on the other hand, dominated in the Super Eight phase with three wins in a row to reach their third consecutive T20 World Cup semifinal. South Africa and New Zealand are currently locking horns in the first semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
What happens if the India-England semifinal is washed out due to rain?
While there is no rain forecast in Mumbai on Thursday, the possibility of unpredictable weather playing spoilsport can never be ruled out. If rain hampers the proceedings during the semifinal on Thursday, the match officials will have an extra 90 minutes to ensure the match is completed.
As per ICC’s playing conditions, each team must bat at least 10 overs each for the result to be determined in the semifinal. If a 10-over-a-side game is not possible on the scheduled day, the match will be abandoned for the day. There is a reserve day in place for the semifinal if the match is washed out due to rain on Thursday.
What happens if the match is washed out on reserve day?
If the semifinal between India and England is washed out on the reserve day, England will qualify for the final. As per ICC’s rules, the table topper from the Super Eight stage will qualify for the final in case of a complete washout. England finished on top of Group 2 in the Super 8s while India finished second in Group 1.
India defeated England by 68 runs when the two teams last met in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup in 2024. The Men in Blue then went on to defeat South Africa in the final to lift the trophy.