In the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Team India celebrated a five-wicket victory over the West Indies. This win has secured their place in the semi-finals, where they will face England on March 5 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
As the anticipation builds for this crucial match against the ‘Three Lions’, former cricketer Irfan Pathan has expressed some concerns regarding Team India’s performance. He highlighted the inconsistent form of explosive batsman Abhishek Sharma, noting that after a promising fifty, his recent outings haven’t met expectations. “One area of concern is Abhishek Sharma’s form. After that fifty, it seemed he would keep scoring, but in his last innings, he leaned back too much while attempting a shot, which affected his balance. Ideally, he should focus more on transferring his weight to the front foot, as that suits his style better,” Pathan remarked on his YouTube channel.
Pathan also emphasized the importance of captain Suryakumar Yadav stepping up against formidable opponents. “Suryakumar needs to make significant contributions against stronger teams, and that’s something he should be aware of,” he added. With Wankhede being his home ground, fans will be eager to see him deliver a standout performance.
Moreover, there is hope for Ishan Kishan to regain his form, which adds another layer of intrigue to whether the ‘Men in Blue’ can outplay the ‘Three Lions’ in the first semi-final of this grand tournament at Wankhede.
Before India’s clash, South Africa and New Zealand will face off in the other semi-final on March 4 at Eden Gardens. The grand finale of this global event is set to take place on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
T20 World Cup 2026: India’s Squad
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.
(With ANI Inputs)