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IND vs ENG Playing 11: The 2nd semi-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 will be played on Thursday, March 5th, at the historic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While Suryakumar Yadav's Team India will aim to reach the final, Harry Brook's England are brimming with confidence after impressive performances in the group stage and Super 8s.
But the biggest topic of discussion in the Indian camp ahead of this big match remains the form of Abhishek Sharma.
Abhishek Sharma: Expectations vs. Reality
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Abhishek Sharma was included in the playing XI for his aggressive batting, but his bat has remained silent this tournament. With the exception of a solitary half-century against Zimbabwe, his stats are concerning. In a do-or-die match like the semi-finals, Abhishek's continued failure could prove to be a major risk for India.
Will Abhishek Sharma play the Semifinal match today?
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The biggest question facing Team India now is whether they will stick with Abhishek Sharma or give a chance to an experienced player in the pressure-packed match. The team management has two main options to consider:
- Rinku Singh's return: Rinku Singh could be brought back into the playing XI to add more depth to the middle order. This will increase the finishing power in the lower order.
- Extra bowler option: To further strengthen the bowling in the semi-finals, an additional spinner or fast bowler could be considered in place of Abhishek.
IND vs ENG Probable Playing 11
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India's playing 11 against England
- Sanju Samson (WK)
- Abhishek Sharma/Rinku Singh
- Ishan Kishan
- Suryakumar Yadav (C)
- Hardik Pandya
- Tilak Verma
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Arshdeep Singh
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Jasprit Bumrah
England's playing 11 against India
- Phil Salt
- Jos Buttler (WK)
- Harry Brook (C)
- Jacob Bethell
- Tom Banton
- Sam Curran
- Will Jacks
- Liam Dawson
- Rehan Ahmed
- Jofra Archer
- Adil Rashid
England's Challenge and India's Revenge
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England reached the semi-finals by defeating Nepal, Scotland, and Italy in Group C and topping the Super 8 group. England are very confident, but Team India will be eager to avenge their defeat against the same opponent in the last World Cup semi-final.
Also Read: IND vs ENG Today Cricket Match Preview, Pitch Report, player form
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