India Prepares for T20 World Cup Semi-Final Against England

As India gears up for the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England, all eyes are on Abhishek Sharma's performance. With concerns about his form, former coach Ravi Shastri weighs in on whether he should be dropped. Discover the insights and strategies as India aims for victory at the Wankhede Stadium.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 4, 2026, 18:55 IST

India vs England: T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Preview

India is gearing up to face England in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026, set to take place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The Indian team enters this match with confidence after their victory in the virtual quarter-final against the West Indies. However, concerns loom over the performance of Abhishek Sharma, who was anticipated to be one of India's key players in the tournament. He has managed to accumulate only 80 runs across six innings, with just one half-century to his name. In the previous match, he contributed a mere 10 runs off 10 balls.

In light of his struggles, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has suggested that Abhishek could be benched for the semi-final, but only if his mental state has been adversely affected by his ongoing poor performance. During an appearance on The ICC Review, Shastri emphasized that the decision to drop Abhishek should be based on whether his confidence has been shaken by his repeated failures.

Shastri stated, "Unless the team management realizes that he is mentally not in the game, it is their responsibility to assess his mindset through discussions and observations during practice sessions." He proposed that if Abhishek's mental state is indeed a concern, Ishan Kishan could take the opening spot alongside Sanju Samson, while Rinku Singh could be brought into the middle order.

Shastri's Support for Abhishek

Despite the challenges, Shastri expressed his inclination to retain Abhishek Sharma in the lineup, citing his impressive performance in the 2025 series against England, where he scored 279 runs in five matches. "That could be the only adjustment, but I would still stick with him because he had an outstanding series against England previously," Shastri remarked. He added, "I wouldn't overlook his past achievements at Wankhede, where he has scored significant runs, including some rapid centuries. I believe in his potential, as there is ample strength in our batting lineup."