India are set to face England in the semifinal of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, but weather concerns have raised questions about what happens if the high-stakes clash is washed out.

Here is a clear breakdown of all possible scenarios.

Reserve day in place for semifinal

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has allocated a reserve day for the semifinal. If rain interrupts play on Thursday, officials have an additional 90 minutes on the scheduled day and 120 extra minutes on Friday to try and complete the fixture.

A minimum five-over contest per side is required for a result.

What if the match is abandoned

If the semifinal cannot be completed even after the reserve day, the outcome will be determined by standings in the Super 8 stage.

In that case, England would progress to the final as they finished higher in their Super 8 group. England topped their group with three wins, while India secured second place with two victories.

What happens if both semifinals are washed out

In the other semifinal, South Africa are scheduled to take on New Zealand at the Eden Gardens.

If both semifinal matches are abandoned, South Africa and England would advance to the final based on their superior Super 8 group standings.

Recent India vs England semifinal history

The upcoming contest continues a notable pattern between the two sides.

In the 2022 edition, England ended India’s campaign in the semifinal before defeating Pakistan in the final to lift the trophy.

However, in 2024, India reversed that result. Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, India defeated England in the semifinal and went on to beat South Africa in Barbados to secure the title.

Interestingly, in both recent editions, the winner of the India-England semifinal eventually emerged as world champion, adding further intrigue to Thursday’s clash in Mumbai.

Already through to the semi-finals, England cricket team continued their dominant run in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a four-wicket win over New Zealand national cricket team in Colombo on Friday.

The victory ensured England completed the Super 8 phase with three wins in three matches, finishing on six points and a net run rate of +1.096 in Group 2.

Super 8 Group 2 points table scenario

With this result, England remain at the top of Group 2 with a flawless record. New Zealand are placed second with three points. Pakistan are third with one point and must secure a convincing win against already-eliminated Sri Lanka national cricket team on Saturday to overtake New Zealand and book a place in the semi-finals.

New Zealand’s qualification now depends on Sri Lanka defeating Pakistan in the final Group 2 fixture. A Pakistan win would see them move ahead of New Zealand on points and claim the second semi-final spot from the group.

How the match unfolded

After opting to bat, New Zealand found several batters getting starts but failing to convert them into substantial scores. Glenn Phillips top-scored with 39, while Tim Seifert made 35. Finn Allen contributed 29 and Mark Chapman added 15, but none managed to anchor the innings as New Zealand finished at 159 for 7 in their 20 overs.

For England, Will Jacks (2/23), Adil Rashid (2/28) and Rehan Ahmed (2/28) shared the bulk of the wickets, with Liam Dawson chipping in with one scalp.

In response, England’s chase was not entirely smooth, but steady contributions across the batting order helped them reach the target in 19.3 overs. Tom Banton scored 33, while Will Jacks remained unbeaten on 32. Captain Harry Brook added 26, Sam Curran made 24, and Rehan Ahmed finished unbeaten on 19 to seal the win.

Rachin Ravindra was the standout bowler for New Zealand with figures of 3/19, but his effort was not enough to prevent England from maintaining their unbeaten run in the Super 8 stage.Brief scores
New Zealand: 159/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 39, Tim Seifert 35; Will Jacks 2/23)
England: 161/6 in 19.3 overs (Will Jacks 32*; Rachin Ravindra 3/19)

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh’s father, Khanchand Singh, passed away on Friday after battling stage four cancer. He was receiving treatment at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, where his health deteriorated earlier this week.

Rinku had travelled to see his father ahead of India’s T20 World Cup match against Zimbabwe. Despite medical efforts, Khanchand Singh’s condition did not improve and he was placed on ventilator support. The cricketer later rejoined the squad in time for the fixture but was not included in the playing XI, with Sanju Samson taking his place. Rinku featured in the match as a substitute fielder.

A pillar of support in Rinku’s journey

Khanchand Singh played a significant role in his son’s cricketing career. Working as an LPG cylinder deliveryman in Aligarh, he ensured that financial challenges did not hinder Rinku’s ambitions in the sport. His support over the years was seen as instrumental in shaping the batter’s rise to the Indian team.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed condolences in a post on X, saying he was pained to learn of the demise and extended prayers to the family. He acknowledged the difficult time for Rinku, who continues to fulfil his national duties during the tournament.

Mixed outing in the tournament

Rinku’s T20 World Cup campaign has been underwhelming so far. He has scored 24 runs across five innings and has struggled to convert starts into significant contributions. Limited opportunities at the crease and the absence of big scores resulted in Samson being preferred in the lineup.

India are set to travel to Kolkata for their final Super 8 clash against West Indies. The encounter is effectively a virtual quarterfinal, with the winner securing a place in the semifinals. India head into the match after a win over Zimbabwe, while West Indies are coming off a heavy defeat to South Africa.