New Delhi: India are set to face England in the second semi final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on March 5 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, with both teams aiming to secure a spot in the final in Ahmedabad.
Ahead of the crucial encounter, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel cautioned that England cannot be taken lightly despite India’s dominant victory over them in their previous meeting in February 2025. In that match, India had registered a massive 150 run win.
Speaking before the game, Morkel described England as a street smart side with significant depth and quality. He pointed out that their long batting lineup and attacking mindset make them particularly dangerous in the T20 format. According to him, England’s fearless style of play often creates opportunities and puts constant pressure on opponents.
Morkel added that the semi final is expected to be an intense contest between two aggressive teams. He stressed that the side capable of managing pressure better, reading the conditions quickly and maintaining composure during crucial moments would have the best chance of progressing to the final.
Both teams have had similar journeys in the tournament. The India national cricket team and the England cricket team have each won six of their seven matches so far. England, led by Harry Brook, began their campaign with a narrow victory over Nepal but suffered a defeat against the West Indies before recovering strongly to reach the knockout stage.
India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, also experienced mixed performances during the group phase. In their opening match against the United States, Suryakumar’s unbeaten 84 played a crucial role in securing a 29 run win after the rest of the batting lineup struggled.
The pitch at Wankhede initially produced moderate scores earlier in the tournament but recent matches suggest it could favour high scoring contests. With the venue expected to offer good batting conditions and limited assistance for spinners, fans could witness an exciting run filled clash between two of the tournament’s most aggressive sides.
