“There is no second chance” - Dilip Vengsarkar cautions Team India ahead of semi-final

Former Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar has cautioned the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, to be sharp with their fielding and bowling economy since the Wankhede Stadium has smaller dimensions and batting friendly surface.

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Notably, this would be the third consecutive time that India would be locking horns with England in a T20 World Cup semi-final after earlier taking on them in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and 2024 semi-finals.

Speaking exclusively to the news agency, ANI, Vengsarkar has reckoned that India would be putting their foot as the favorites, having played the majority of their T20 World Cup 2026 games in India.

"Both teams are in form, England did well in Sri Lanka, and India did well against the West Indies. There will be eyes on everyone, as there is not much time for an individual. They are peaking at the right time. England are playing their first game in India this tournament after so long, that too at Mumbai, so India has an advantage,” Vengsarkar told ANI.

"There is no second chance. If you make a mistake in T20s, you lose. India is in good form. I hope that India does well. I think bowling is very crucial. India has to really bowl well...Bowlers have to be absolutely spot on. The Wankhede ground is smaller, and the pitch is suited to batting. They will have to be economical, and the fielding has to be sharp as well," he concluded.

India will take on England in the second semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, on Thursday, March 5.

India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.

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England squad: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.

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