Gavaskar predicts ‘humdinger’ on March 5 as India take on England in T20 World Cup semifinal

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has predicted a fiercely contested T20 World Cup semifinal between India and England , calling it a “humdinger” and giving the hosts a slight edge because of their flexible batting unit and the presence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah the adaptability of Tilak Varma .

Thursday’s clash at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium marks the third consecutive T20 World Cup in which the two sides meet in the semifinals. England dominated India by 10 wickets in Adelaide in 2022, before Rohit Sharma’s men avenged that defeat with a commanding win in Providence in the West Indies in 2024. On both occasions, the winner of the India-England semifinal went on to lift the trophy, adding extra significance to this encounter.

Gavaskar described the teams as evenly matched, highlighting their depth in batting and variety in bowling. He noted that several England players have considerable Indian Premier League experience, making them familiar with local conditions and the pressures of knockout cricket.

A central battle, according to Gavaskar, will be Bumrah against England’s explosive top order, including Harry Brook , along with Jos Buttler and Phil Salt. He advocated deploying Bumrah for at least two overs in the powerplay to strike early. “If he can get those early wickets, he will have pretty much broken the back of the England batting,” Gavaskar said. He also highlighted Bumrah’s unique action and ability to move the ball both ways, making him extremely difficult to read.

Meanwhile, the first semifinal between South Africa and New Zealand will be played on Wednesday, March 4, at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens at 7 PM IST , with Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf as on-field umpires. For the India-England semifinal on Thursday, March 5, at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium at 7 PM IST , Chris Gaffaney and Allahuddien Paleker will officiate, supported by Nitin Menon, Rod Tucker, and Javagal Srinath, ensuring smooth conduct in what promises to be another high-voltage clash.

With recent history, individual matchups, and experience on both sides, Gavaskar expects another thrilling semifinal as India aim to defend their title on home soil.