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England is set to clash against Team India in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026. The match is scheduled to be played on March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Ahead of the match, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feels that Team India`s lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah should bowl at least two overs in the powerplay.
“I do believe that he (Bumrah) should be bowling at least two overs in the powerplay because as a new-ball bowler, if he can get those early wickets… Jos Buttler, Phil Salt and Harry Brook, he will have pretty much broken the back of the England batting,” he said.
The former cricketer then explained that it would be beneficial for the team and the pacer if Bumrah gets the early wickets of England`s top-order batsmen.
“…him coming in to bowl the fifth over, when four overs have already been bowled and the batters have got about 20 deliveries, means that both batters have got about 8-10 deliveries to settle in. So, wouldn`t it be better then for Bumrah and for India if Bumrah were to bowl to them first and get them out?,” said Gavaskar.
He also feels that, considering a few English players have the experience of playing in Indian conditions and are familiar with featuring in a knockout match, the clash is expected to be a “humdinger”.
“Both sides are very well-matched. They have got batting and bowling. They have got middle-order and, you know, the finisher. Both teams have variety in their bowling. England have got a few players who have played in the IPL, who are familiar with Indian conditions, familiar with the pressure of playing a knockout. So, I think it is going to be a humdinger,” said the 76-year-old former cricketer.
T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs ENG: Full Squads
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma.
England: Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jos Buttler (WK), Jamie Overton, Ben Duckett, Jofra Archer, Luke Wood, Sam Curran, Phil Salt (WK), Josh Tongue, Harry Brook (C), Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Jacob Bethell, Rehan Ahmed.
(With PTI Inputs)
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