Delhi Capitals will host Mumbai Indians in the eighth match of IPL 2026 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Saturday, 4th April. Both teams had an excellent start to the tournament, winning their opening matches. Mumbai Indians defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets, successfully chasing a target of 221 runs. Ryan Rickelton was the top scorer for his team, scoring 81 runs off 43 balls. Mitchell Santner, who missed the opening match, has joined the squad, he should come straight into the XI in place of Ghazanfar.

Similarly, the Delhi Capitals also won their opening match by six wickets. They successfully chased a target of 142 runs in 17.1 overs. Young batter Sameer Rizvi was the standout performer for Delhi, scoring 70 runs off 47 balls and helping his team to chase down the total. Delhi Capitals have won the last three games at this venue.  Lungi Ngidi carried his golden form from the T20 World Cup and picked up three wickets in the opening match.

Also Read: CSK vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today, Match 7, Pitch Report, Fantasy Tips

DC vs MI Match Details 

• Match: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians, 8th Match

• Date: 4th April 2026

• Time: 3:30 PM IST

• Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

DC vs MI Weather Report

Pitch Report - Arun Jaitley Stadium

Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is one of the best T20 cricket venues in India, and we have seen high-scoring matches there in the past. Fast bowlers must utilise their variations to succeed, and the spinners benefit from good support from the wicket.

• Win Batting First: 46%

• Win Bowling First: 54%

Average Scores

• Average 1st Innings: 172

• Average 2nd Innings: 155

DC vs MI Recent Form

DC vs MI Head-to-Head Record (Last 10 matches)

• DC Wins - 4

• MI Wins - 6

Top Batters to Watch – DC vs MI

• Ryan Rickelton (MI): 81 runs in this tournament 

• Rohit Sharma (MI): 79 runs in this tournament 

• Sameer Rizvi (DC): 70 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – DC vs MI

• T. Natarajan (DC): 3 wickets in this tournament 

• Lungi Ngidi (DC): 3 wickets in this tournament 

• Shardul Thakur (MI): 3 wickets in this tournament 

DC vs MI Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If DC bats first

• Powerplay Score: 45–50

• Predicted Total: 170–180

• Match Result: MI to win

Scenario 2: If MI bats first

• Powerplay Score: 50–60

• Predicted Total: 190–210

• Match Result: MI to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

DC vs MI Predicted Playing XIs

Delhi Capitals 

Axar Patel (c), KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Vipraj Nigam, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar (Impact Player)

Mumbai Indians 

Hardik Pandya (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Sherfane Rutherford, Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, AM Ghazanfar/Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah (Impact Player)

Why Mumbai Indians is the favourite

• Jasprit Bumrah's recent form 

• Chasing 200+ target in the last match 

• Reliable middle-order

DC vs MI Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, Mumbai Indians is the favourite to win this IPL 2026 match. Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya are expected to be the key performers.

Prediction: Mumbai Indians to win

The Lucknow Super Giants will begin their IPL 2026 campaign by facing the Delhi Capitals in the fifth match of the season at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on April 1. Lucknow Super Giants qualified for the playoffs in their first two seasons but have struggled since then. This season, they have retained their core group and will be eager to return to the playoffs after missing out twice. LSG appear to be a top-heavy side, with a strong top order comprising Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, and Rishabh Pant.

On the other hand, the Capitals had a strong start to the IPL 2025 season under captain Axar Patel, winning six of their first eight matches. However, they suffered a significant dip in form afterwards, managing just one win in their next six games. They will be aiming for another strong start this season and, this time, will look to maintain their momentum throughout the tournament. Delhi have had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning the last four encounters.

Also Read: Yuzvendra Chahal shines with two wickets in PBKS vs GT IPL 2026 Match 4

LSG vs DC Match Details 

• Match: Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals, 5th Match

• Date: 1st April 2026

• Time: 7:30 PM IST

• Venue: Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow 

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

LSG vs DC Weather Report

Pitch Report - Ekana Cricket Stadium

The pitch at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is usually slower and has a low-to-medium bounce. Spinners gain a lot of help from it, especially during the middle overs when the ball grips, while pacers use variations and cutters. The average first-innings score at this venue is 175 runs. In IPL 2025, 6 out of 8 matches were won by the team chasing

• Win Batting First: 41%

• Win Bowling First: 59%

Average Scores

• Average 1st Innings: 175

• Average 2nd Innings: 165

LSG vs DC Recent Form

LSG vs DC Head-to-Head Record (Last 10 matches)

• LSG Wins - 3

• DC Wins - 4

Top Batters to Watch – LSG vs DC

• Kl Rahul (DC): 5222 runs in IPL

• Rishabh Pant (LSG): 3553 runs in IPL

• Nicholas Pooran (LSG): 2293 runs in IPL

Top Bowlers to Watch – LSG vs DC

• Mohammad Shami (LSG): 133 wickets in IPL

• Kuldeep Yadav (DC): 102 wickets in IPL

• Axar Patel (DC): 128 wickets in IPL

LSG vs DC Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If DC bats first

• Powerplay Score: 45–50

• Predicted Total: 165–170

• Match Result: LSG to win

Scenario 2: If LSG bats first

• Powerplay Score: 50–60

• Predicted Total: 175–190

• Match Result: LSG to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

LSG vs DC Predicted Playing XIs

Lucknow Super Giants 

Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (C, WK), Nicholas Pooran, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Anrich Nortje, Digvesh Rathi.

Delhi Capitals 

Abhishek Porel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (C), Vipraj Nigam, Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Lungi Ngidi.

Why Lucknow Super Giants is the favourite

• Strong overseas players 

• Excellent indian pace bowling unit 

• Power-hitters

LSG vs DC Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, Lucknow Super Giants is the favourite to win this IPL 2026 match. Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Rishabh Pant are expected to be the key performers.

Prediction: Lucknow Super Giants to win

Star Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav was recently seen visiting the famous Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan with his wife ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The visit came as he was preparing for the upcoming tournament.

The couple offered prayers at the temple and spent some quiet time seeking blessings. Their visit reflected a sense of faith and calm before the busy cricket season begins.

Kuldeep, who is expected to play an important role in IPL 2026, looked relaxed during the visit. Fans were happy to see this personal side of the cricketer as he gets ready for the new season.

Watch the video here:

नव विवाह जीवन का शुभारंभ श्री बाँके बिहारी जी के आशीर्वाद के साथ करते भारतीय क्रिकेटर कुलदीप यादव...!!💛 pic.twitter.com/ox2JEN6g0l

— Shilpi Yadav (@ShilpiYlucknow) March 25, 2026

Kuldeep Yadav seeks blessings with newly wedded wife before IPL 2026

The star spinner visited the famous Thakur Banke Bihari Temple with his wife, Vanshika. This was the couple’s first visit to Vrindavan after their marriage, and both were seen deeply devoted during the visit.

The T20 World Cup 2026 winning spinner kept his visit very private and confidential. According to Shailendra Goswami, a sevayat at the Banke Bihari Temple, he had requested that the information not be made public to avoid any disruption during darshan. The couple stayed at the temple for about an hour and offered prayers peacefully.

After getting married in Mussoorie on March 14, he visited the temple for the first time to seek blessings. On this special occasion, he also offered 56 Bhog Prasad to Lord Banke Bihari.

See also -Kuldeep Yadav to marry childhood friend in March after T20 World Cup 2026 win

Spiritual visit comes just days before IPL 2026 campaign begins

The spiritual visit comes just a few days before the start of the IPL 2026 season, showing Kuldeep Yadav’s calm and focused mindset ahead of the tournament. As players prepare for a busy and competitive season, such moments of peace and devotion help them stay mentally strong.

During the puja, sevayat Nitin Sanwaria presented the couple with perfume, which they applied at the temple’s entrance. They then stood with folded hands, quietly offering prayers and looking at the idol for a long time. The couple also received a warm welcome from the Goswami community at the Chandan Kothri near the sanctum.

Kuldeep is a devoted follower of Thakur Banke Bihari and often visits Vrindavan whenever he gets time. However, this visit was more special as it came after a new phase in his life.

He will next be seen playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026. The season is set to begin soon, and the Axar Patel-led team will start their campaign against the Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 in an away match.

Fans react to Kuldeep Yadav’s heartfelt temple visit video

Fans reacted warmly to Kuldeep Yadav’s temple visit video, praising his simple and spiritual side. Many shared kind messages on social media, saying they felt happy to see him with his wife and showing respect for his faith. Some fans also wished him good luck for IPL 2026 and hoped he has a great season ahead.

कुलदीप यादव बेस्ट प्लेयर के साथ ही बेस्ट इंसान भी हैं

— Dr Shashi Tiwari (@DrShashiTweet) March 25, 2026

जय श्री राधे राधे राधे राधे 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

— Ajy (@AnujigclAnujig1) March 25, 2026

राधे राधे जय श्री कृष्ण

— Jay Yadav (@jyadav243) March 25, 2026

बिहारी जी का आशीर्वाद हमेशा लेना चाहिए

— Mayra (@elaravale777) March 25, 2026

Star Indian opener Prithvi Shaw made an emotional return to the Arun Jaitley Stadium as he rejoined the Delhi Capitals (DC) camp ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, set to begin on March 28.

The Axar Patel-led franchise welcomed him back with a heartfelt video on social media, captioned, “Our boy is back home,” highlighting the strong bond between Shaw and the team.

Shaw also shared an emotional message for fans, expressing his feelings as he returned to familiar surroundings and reconnected with the DC setup.

His comeback carries added significance, as his long association with Delhi had ended after seven seasons when he was released ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. The 26-year-old then faced a difficult phase, going unsold, with Delhi opting not to bring him back at the time.

Watch the video here:

Our boy is back home 💙🥹 pic.twitter.com/dKpFmCwOIV

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 22, 2026

Shaw’s Emotional Return to Delhi Capitals

The Delhi Capitals welcomed back Prithvi Shaw with an emotional video on social media, captioned, “Our Boy is back home.”

In the video, Shaw spoke about his strong bond with the team and the stadium. He shared how special the place is to him and how it shaped his journey as a cricketer.

“You don’t forget a place like Kotla. Not the noise. Not the silence. Not what it made you. Some stories don’t end. They come back. Delhi, your boy is home,” Shaw said in a video released by DC.

"Some stories don't end. They come back. Delhi, your boy is home," he added.

Shaw’s long journey with Delhi ended after seven seasons when he was released before the IPL 2025 auction. The 26-year-old then went through a difficult phase, as he remained unsold and was not picked again by the franchise.

He had to wait for another chance, as his name did not come up in the main rounds of the IPL 2026 auction.

See also -Prithvi Shaw gets engaged to his long-time girlfriend Akriti Agarwal ahead of IPL 2026

What Prithvi Shaw brings to DC in IPL 2026

Prithvi Shaw was first signed by the Delhi Capitals for Rs 1.2 crore after leading India to victory in the 2018 U-19 World Cup.

Over seven seasons, he played 79 matches and scored 1,892 runs at an average of 23.5, including 14 half-centuries. He remained an important part of the team during his time with the franchise.

Delhi Capitals had a close finish last season, ending in fifth place with seven wins in 14 matches, just missing out on the playoffs. The team is still looking for its first IPL title and will aim to improve its performance in the upcoming season.

According to the schedule released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 1.

Fans react to Delhi Capitals’ special gesture

Fans of the Delhi Capitals shared strong reactions after the team posted a special welcome video for Prithvi Shaw. Many fans felt emotional and welcomed him back, calling it a “homecoming.”

Some fans wrote, “This year I want Prithvi and Sarfaraz to score some big runs.” Another fan wrote, “Hoping for a comeback and a 500+ runs season 🤞.”

Read all the fans’ reactions below:

This year I want Prithvi and Sarfaraz to score some big runs.

— Md Tajdar (@tajdaraslam) March 22, 2026

My senses are telling that he will regain his form this season... Hope he does that..

Good luck champ 🤞🏼

— Ravan_Cricket #SRH🧡 (@RaGOAT6008) March 22, 2026

Prithvi Shaw will find the ball very small this time, because he's playing with a big ball.

— HeySaiF 🔥 (@SaifAslam1441) March 22, 2026

Hoping for comeback and 500+ runs season 🤞

— Kartik Sharma (@KartikSharmaFC) March 22, 2026

Wishing him 700+ runs in this season

— ℍ𝕚𝕥𝕞𝕒𝕟_𝕃𝕚𝕥𝕖_𝕍𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟🏏 (@RajBhandari97) March 22, 2026

He should get into some good shape. Not looking like a professional cricketer. Idk if he had any health issues and can't lose weight. But if it's not the case then he should take a serious look at it. Else we can see him vanish next year

— Mr Snow☃️ (@Wittywisdom01) March 22, 2026

Delhi Capitals Squad For IPL 2026: 

Axar Patel(C), KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Mitchell Starc, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Abhishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Auqib Dar, Nitish Rana, T. Natrajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, Lungisani Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson, Kuldeep Yadav.

The Delhi Capitals head into the Indian Premier League with a squad that reflects smart planning rather than flashy signings. The team appears thoughtfully constructed, featuring a stable batting core, flexible middle-order options, a quality spin combination, and a varied pace attack capable of adapting to different conditions.

The appointment of Axar Patel as captain aligns well with this approach, as his all-round ability and calm presence make him an ideal figure to build a balanced T20 side around. With a clear structure and intent in place, here’s a SWOT analysis of the Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2026.

DC IPL 2026 Squad: Axar Patel (Captain), KL Rahul, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay, Ajay Mandal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera,  Nitish Rana, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Auqib Nabi Dar, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Kyle Jamieson

Strength

The biggest strength of the side lies in how effectively they have built a squad that addresses past shortcomings while covering all key areas. Unlike previous seasons, where certain gaps were evident, this time the team appears far more structured and complete.

Both the batting and bowling units look well-balanced, with a good mix of experienced players and emerging talent. This balance also brings valuable flexibility, allowing the team to adapt to different match situations and conditions without compromising quality. With depth across departments and multiple match-winners in the lineup, the squad shapes up as one of the most well-rounded and competitive units on paper heading into the season.

Weakness

Despite looking like one of the most well-balanced squads on paper, the Delhi Capitals could face early challenges due to uncertainty at the top of the order. With multiple options such as Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, and Prithvi Shaw, the team has variety but lacks a consistently reliable pairing due to their fluctuating form. 

The potential inclusion of KL Rahul as a primary opener further complicates selection decisions. While this depth offers flexibility, the absence of a fixed opening combination could affect batting rhythm and stability factors that may prove crucial in their bid for a maiden IPL title.

See All: IPL 2026: SWOT Analysis of Punjab Kings

Opportunity

The Delhi Capitals possess one of the most well-rounded squads in IPL 2026, with strength not just in their first-choice XI but also in their bench options, making it the right opportunity. Almost every position has capable backups, allowing the team to adapt based on conditions and opposition.

A key advantage lies in their flexibility, especially with overseas combinations, where they can rotate players without significantly weakening the side. Apart from the specialist spinners, most areas of the squad offer multiple choices, giving the team a tactical edge and the ability to experiment with different matchups throughout the tournament.

Threat

The biggest threat to the Delhi Capitals lies in delivering under high-pressure situations. Last season exposed this weakness, with the team faltering in crunch moments, be it through ineffective death bowling or sudden batting collapses in close games.

Their success in IPL 2026 will heavily depend on sharper decision-making in key phases. Additionally, a strong reliance on overseas players could disrupt team balance if injuries or unavailability occur. If results don’t go their way early on, there is also a risk of frequent changes in the playing XI, a pattern that hurt their momentum in the previous season.

Star Australian pacer Mitchell Starc will miss the start of IPL 2026. He is the latest Australian player to sit out the opening part of the tournament.

Cricket Australia is taking a careful approach to manage its fast bowlers before a busy international schedule. Delhi Capitals will not have Starc for the first few games, according to cricket.com.au.

The reason is not injury. Cricket Australia is giving him a break to manage his workload. Starc is a senior player, and keeping his body in good condition is important. The Aussie absence at the start of IPL 2026 will affect Delhi Capitals’ plans for the opening matches.

JUST IN: Mitchell Starc is set to miss IPL start as Australia manage workload pic.twitter.com/jFyPb39QDj

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 20, 2026

Also read -Mitchell Starc Named ICC Men's Player Of The Month For December 2025

Mitchell Starc to Miss Start of IPL 2026

Mitchell Starc is among Australia’s senior pacers being rested for the early part of IPL 2026. His availability will depend on how he progresses in return-to-play protocols over the coming weeks, according to cricket.com.au.

The 36-year-old’s workload has been a major factor. He played all five Ashes Tests and also featured in the later stages of the Big Bash League. While he stepped away from T20 Internationals last year, he is still important for Australia in longer formats. With a packed international schedule ahead, including tours to South Africa, India, and England, and the ODI World Cup 2027, Cricket Australia is taking a cautious approach.

Impact on Delhi Capitals

Starc was picked by Delhi Capitals for INR 11.75 crore, and his absence will leave a gap in their pace attack at the start. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are also set to miss the opening phase under the same workload plan, while Nathan Ellis is out due to a hamstring injury.

Australia's four leading short-form pacemen will all miss at least the start of the Indian Premier League: https://t.co/LU6d7YBluI pic.twitter.com/sotXvlWn7S

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 20, 2026

The Delhi Capitals started their 2025 season well, winning their first two games, but then their form dropped. Without Mitchell Starc at the start of the season, it will be harder for the Capitals to set the right pace early on. They finished fifth in 2025 and missed the playoffs.

This season, the team has a good mix of Indian and overseas players. KL Rahul may open the batting, while players like Prithvi Shaw, Ben Duckett, and Pathum Nissanka give them strong options at the top order. The Capitals are still looking for their first IPL trophy. They will start their 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 and will hope for a winning start.

Delhi Capitals Full squad for IPL 2026

Axar Patel(c), KL Rahul, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay, Ajay Mandal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, Nitish Rana, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Auqib Nabi Dar, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Kyle Jamieson

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 first phase schedule has been announced. The tournament will start with a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28. The first phase of the tournament will end on April 12.

The first double-header match day will be on 4th April, 2026. In the afternoon match, Delhi Capitals (DC) will play their second match of IPL 2026 against five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI). The match will be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi at 3:30 PM.

The team led by Hardik Pandya finished their IPL 2025 campaign in 4th place. On the other hand, the team led by Axar Patel finished their 2025 campaign in 5th place. The last time these two teams played against each other was on 13th April, 2025, when the Mumbai Indians won the match by 12 runs.

Here are the complete details about ticket price, booking date, and how to book Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2026 tickets, along with a full step-by-step guide.

Also read -CSK vs DC IPL 2026 Tickets: Price, Booking Date & How to Book Full Step-by-Step Guide

DC vs MI Predicted Playing XI 

Delhi Capitals (DC) Probable XI: 

Pathum Nissanka, Abishek Porel (WK), Nitish Rana, KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel(C), Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav

Impact Player- Auqib Nabi

Mumbai Indians (MI) Probable XI: 

Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (captain), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, Trent Boult 

Impact Player -Ashwani Kumar

DC vs MI Ticket Prices by Stands 

How to Book DC vs MI IPL 2026 Tickets: Step-by-Step Guide

• The tickets for the DC vs MI match are expected to go live around five days before the start of the game.
• For the fans to buy tickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, they will need to go to the Book My Show platform, the Zomato District App or the official IPL website.
• In the second phase, they need to select the match and choose the stand they want to sit in. The prices of the stands may vary based on the high-profile games, play-offs, and other occasions.
• After selecting the stands, the fan will need to fill in the contact details and ticket information.
• In the final step, they will need to complete the payment via UPI, debit card, credit card, or Net Banking.
• After the successful completion of the payment, the fan will get the digital ticket with the QR code via email and SMS, as they need to scan it at the stadium.

India will face England in the semi-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup for the third time in a row. Earlier, the two teams met in Adelaide in 2022 and in Guyana in 2024. This time, the big match will be played at Wankhede Stadium.

The Indian team is led by Suryakumar Yadav. India lost one match to South Africa but won the next two matches. The team first beat Zimbabwe easily and then won a close game against the West Indies to reach the semi-final.

Before the big match, members of the Indian cricket team visited the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple in Mumbai on Wednesday. The visit was ahead of their T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England, scheduled for Thursday at Wankhede Stadium.

Players like Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan, and Abhishek Sharma offered prayers and took part in rituals. They sought blessings and positive energy ahead of this important match.

Watch the video here:

ISHAN KISHAN, ABHISHEK SHARMA & AXAR PATEL VISITED AT SHREE SIDDHIVINAYAK GANAPATI TEMPLE IN MUMBAI. 🙏 (ANI).pic.twitter.com/3qoAeQ431J

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) March 4, 2026

Also read : Watch: England players share views on Team India ahead of Semi-Final clash in T20 World Cup 2026

India Players Look to Improve Form

Abhishek Sharma is struggling for runs in the T20 World Cup 2026. He has scored only one half-century in six matches. Ishan Kishan started well in the group stage but could not score much in the Super 8 stage. Axar Patel has also not made a big impact.

India have played well in the tournament so far. The team has won six of its seven matches. The only loss came against South Africa by 76 runs in the Super 8 stage.

Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India reached the semi-final with a five-wicket win over West Indies in a must-win Super 8 match. West Indies scored 195/4 in 20 overs. India chased the target successfully. Sanju Samson was not out on 97 runs. Tilak Varma and others also helped in the chase.

England are also playing good cricket in this tournament. The two-time champions won all three Super 8 matches. The Harry Brook-led team will try to keep the winning momentum against the defending champions.

Squads for IND vs ENG Semi-Final T20 World Cup 2026

England squad: Harry Brook (captain), 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.

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

In the previous T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 game for the Indian side, the management decided to keep Axar Patel, their left-arm spin all-rounder, on the bench due to a tactical change before he marked his return to the campaign against Zimbabwe in the second fixture at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

India made a good start to their defense against a massive score of 256 runs as none of the Zimbabwe openers, Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani, could free their arms and nail the big shots against the new ball bowling of the pacers before they smashed Varun Chakravarthy for a massive over to end the powerplay.

See Also: Watch: India smash 21 runs off Richard Ngarava’s 19th over in IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s

Just after the initial drinks break, the Indian captain brought Axar Patel into the attack, and on the very second ball of the over, he drew the first blood with the wicket of Marumani for 20 runs. The southpaw couldn’t capitalize on the start and the life he got in the previous over.

Axar Patel removes Tadiwanashe Marumani in IND vs ZIM T20 WC 2026

It was a flat good length delivery outside the off stump as Marumani went on the back foot and cut. The ball was sliced as he didn’t look to keep it down, and Ishan Kishan grabbed a fine catch to dismiss the opening batter. Axar looked at the sky in his own celebration, perhaps after being dropped in the last game.

Watch the video here: 

@StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/jm2DaQedEK

— Cricket Everywhere✍🏻 (@Subhamk79241601) February 26, 2026

Zimbabwe recovered a little when Brian Bennett went after Axar with one six and one four in the ninth over of the innings. The right-handed batter made his way to 43 runs in 29 balls with the help of four boundaries and a couple of sixes. Meanwhile, they lost Dion Myers at the other end against Chakravarthy.

Earlier in the game, India posted the second-highest T20 Team score of the World Cups, 256/4, after Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya celebrated their respective aggressive half-centuries. The former got 55 runs in 30 balls while the all-rounder notched up an unbeaten 50 runs in 23 deliveries at a strike rate of 217.39, thanks to two fours and four sixes.

Brief Scores: India 254/6 (Abhishek Sharma 55, Hardik Pandya 50, Sikandar Raza 1/29) vs Zimbabwe 105/2 (Brian Bennett 56*, Varun Chakravarthy 1/23)