India will face off against England in the second semifinal of the 2026 T20 World Cup on Thursday, March 5. The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will host the high-profile clash.

The Men in Blue are the defending champions and will book a place in the summit clash against New Zealand if they come out on top. Although a few key players aren’t in the best of form right now, changes seem unlikely for Suryakumar Yadav and company.

India’s squad for the T20 World Cup: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar.

England’s squad for the T20 World Cup: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Ben Duckett, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton.

On that note, here is India’s predicted playing XI for the T20 World Cup 2026 game against England.

Openers: Sanju Samson (wk) and Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma has been in dreadful form for most of the T20 World Cup but should retain his place at the top of the order. Sanju Samson, fresh off one of the best innings of his career so far, will be raring to go at the other end.

Middle Order: Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya

Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav will make up the top four, with Tilak Varma taking on his new role at No. 5. No changes are expected in the Indian batting order.

Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel will add some batting depth and bowling ability to the hosts, although India will do their best to not use Dube’s overs.

Lower Order: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy

Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh will make up the pace attack. Bumrah’s usage will be watched closely, as India are reliant on him to give them control through the middle overs and at the death.

Varun Chakaravarthy, who has enjoyed bowling against England, will lead the spin attack. He will hold the key for the Men in Blue through the middle overs, with his speeds and variations.