Indian Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar became emotional when asked to honor Nari Contractor with a lifetime achievement award. In a rare sighting, Gavaskar was in tears as he idealized Contractor as his childhood hero.

Gavaskar explained how important Nari Contractor has been to him throughout the journey in the sports sector. The 76-year-old recalled a moment when he used to be an aspirant, listening to a commentary when Contractor was batting against England.

Sunil Gavaskar recalls Nari Contractor’s inspiring comeback

Recalling the spectrum from the early days, Gavaskar mentioned that, in that match, Nari Contractor batted with a broken rib for another two to three hours. The moment, the commentary, and the heart-out batting of Nari Contractor became a turning point in his career forever.

Read More: CSK arranges exclusive fans-players meetup before IPL 2026: Full details

“I mean, for me, it is an incredible honor to be able to, I'm getting emotional here, to be able to present this award, the Lifetime Achievement Award to Nari Contractor. We learned so much from him. Firstly, as an opening bat, you need courage”, Sunil Gavaskar said from the stage.

Why Nari Contractor remains a legendary figure in Indian cricket

“I remember listening to the commentary, 1959 of the Lord's Test Match, and very early in his innings, he got hit in the chest by a ball from Brian Statham that got up, broke a rib, and he carried on. He carried on, batted for another two to three hours, and finally got out at 81. But for somebody who was just looking at playing a little bit of gully cricket, street cricket, it was an inspiration”, he further added.

From the knock of Nari Contractor, who is now 92, Gavaskar came to learn that without pain, he would not become a proper batter. Even a blow on the head could not stop the legend, Gavaskar recalled.

“It was that if you want to be a batter, you've got to be prepared to take the pain. And if you've got to be a batter for your country, you should be able to put your life on the line. I mean, that was it. So, when he got hit on the head, after that, he also made a comeback. He made a comeback to the, to first class cricket and got hundreds. But clearly at that stage, there were no helmets”, Sunil Gavaskar mentioned.

It was an emotional moment for the cricket fans as well. Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan was there among the attendees. The camera captured some numb eyes of some of the fans as well. 

"Nari Contractor - He was hit on the head by Charlie Griffith", one of the comments in the social media post reads. "One legend talks about legendary heroics of another legend... So inspiring, humble, and kind of cute", another cricket fan wrote in the comment section. 

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 Fans react to the emotional moment

We can resonate with this. We belong to a generation where we get emotional for our heroes. We don't abuse other players. Cricket meant so much for us..

— Vinayak Dubey 🇮🇳 (@vinayvaani) March 14, 2026

One of the best cricketers of all time and great analyst too. Calls a spade a spade without any fear.

— Sameer Singh (@Imsamtheone) March 14, 2026

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced a new set of operational guidelines for all ten franchises ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The new directives focus on maintaining fairness in training conditions and protecting the quality of the playing surfaces throughout the tournament.

One of the most notable changes is the introduction of a strict “fresh pitch” policy for practice sessions. According to the guidelines, franchises will no longer be allowed to use practice nets or pitches that have already been used by another team. If teams practice consecutively at the same venue, the second team must be provided with completely fresh nets instead of reusing the previous surface.

The BCCI clarified that even if a team finishes its training session early, the following team cannot use the same nets or the range-hitting wicket that was previously used. The rule aims to ensure equal preparation conditions for every franchise and avoid disputes over pitch quality.

Apart from the fresh net mandate, the board has also placed restrictions on practice matches before the tournament. Each team will be allowed to play a maximum of two warm-up matches, but they must inform the BCCI in advance. If these practice matches are played under floodlights, their total duration must not exceed three and a half hours.

ALSO SEE: India to tour two new countries in packed 2026 international calendar: Full details

New practice regulations aim to protect match surfaces

To preserve the quality of match surfaces, the BCCI has also banned practice sessions or practice games on the main pitch designated for tournament matches. In addition, no training will be allowed on the central square for four days leading up to a franchise’s first home match of the season.

If the main practice area is unavailable during this period, the respective State Association must provide an alternative practice ground for the home team at no extra cost.

The guidelines also address scheduling preferences. While the home team will generally get the first choice of practice sessions, priority may be given to the visiting team if they have played a match the previous day or faced travel constraints.

With IPL 2026 set to begin on March 28, these new regulations are expected to ensure better pitch management and fair training conditions for all franchises.

Sanju Samson received a grand welcome as soon as he came out of the airport in his hometown. The Kerala-born stepped out of the Kerala airport with a huge applause from the fans. A large number of fans gathered to welcome the best player of the T20 World Cup 2026, mostly the local hero of Kerala. 

Samson, who had been struggling to score runs before the T20 World Cup 2026, concluded the tournament with the silverware and the Player of the Tournament award. On the Ahmedabad track, where the New Zealand batters suffocated for some runs, the star opener made his strokes soothing for the eyes.

In the summit clash, against a strong New Zealand cricket team, the right-handed batter smashed 89 runs off 46 balls. Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson proved the most expensive individual against Samson. The express bowler leaked 30 runs in only 7 balls. Against Ferguson, Samson hit two 4s and three 6.

Read More: Gautam Gambhir responds to MS Dhoni’s 'Coach Sahab' message after India’s T20 World Cup 2026 win

Another Kisi pacer, Matt Henry, also proved costly when he conceded 19 runs off 11 balls against the Indian batter. During the 46-ball knock, the Kerala-born smacked five 4s and eight 6s in total, which took his strike rate to 193.48.

Along with Abhishek Sharma (52) and Samson, India got 98 runs against 43 balls for the opening stand. Ishan Kishan, the number three batter, also joined the run feast after Sharma’s departure. For the second wicket, Ishan and Sanju confirmed 105 runs in 48 balls.

Sanju Samson receives a grand reception in Kerala

GRAND WELCOME FOR SANJU SAMSON IN KERALA..!!! 😍🔥 pic.twitter.com/F7cQosxOj2

— Johns Samson (@CricCrazyJohns) March 9, 2026

Posting a record-breaking total of 255, India won the Final by 96 runs. It was a magical moment for Sanju Samson. He was running out of words when he was asked to describe his feelings.

“It feels like a dream, actually. Very, very happy, very grateful. Out of words, out of emotions. I’m just going through it, so it feels a bit surreal”, with a smile on face, Samson said after the match. 

The names of both finalist teams of the T20 World Cup 2026 have been decided. This time, the tournament's final match will be played between New Zealand and India. By defeating South Africa in the first semi-final match, New Zealand secured its place in the title match. Meanwhile, in the second semi-final, India made it to the final by defeating England. However, India had to struggle to defeat England, because despite setting a target of 254, Suryakumar Yadav's team won by just 7 runs.

In the match played at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India batted first after losing the toss and scored 253/7 in 20 overs. Sanju Samson led the innings with an 89-run knock. With such a big target set, England appeared likely to fall short. However, Jacob Bethel’s remarkable 105 runs off 48 balls kept England in contention. The momentum shifted when Bethel was run out in the final over. On the last three balls, Jofra Archer hit consecutive sixes, but England still could not secure victory.

See Also: Watch: Rohit Sharma spotted talking with Suryakumar Yadav ahead of IND vs ENG T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-Final 2

In this way, India secured a place in the T20 World Cup 2026 final with a victory, also becoming the third team to play consecutive finals in the history of this tournament. Let's take a look at which three teams have played consecutive finals.

1. Pakistan (2007, 2009)

Although Pakistan's journey in the T20 World Cup 2026 did not progress beyond the Super-8, it is the first team to have played consecutive finals in the history of this tournament. Pakistan played in the finals of the 2007 and 2009 editions of the T20 World Cup. In the first final, Pakistan faced a 5-run defeat against India. However, when Pakistan got the chance for the second time, it made history and succeeded in becoming champion by defeating Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in the title match.

2. Sri Lanka (2012, 2014)

Like Pakistan, Sri Lanka has also played consecutive T20 World Cup finals. The Sri Lankan team played its first T20 World Cup final in 2012, when it itself hosted the tournament. However, in the final match, Sri Lanka faced defeat against the West Indies by 36 runs. After that, in the T20 World Cup 2014 held in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka also made it to the final and won the title by defeating India.

3. India (2024 and 2026)

As soon as it secured a place in the final match of the T20 World Cup 2026, India became the third team in the history of the tournament to play consecutive finals after Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Team India secured a place in the final by defeating England in the second semi-final and will now face New Zealand on March 8. Earlier, in 2024 as well, India played the final and won the trophy by defeating South Africa by 7 runs.

Sanju Samson has regained his form in the T20 World Cup 2026. Sanju played a brilliant innings of 97 runs in the Super-8 match against the West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026, leading India to a 5-wicket victory. Similarly, in the semifinal match against England, this player also made an explosive start with the bat, hitting boundaries with his first two shots of the innings. Sanju hit a four on the third ball of the over against Jofra Archer and then hit a six on the next ball. In this way, he revealed his intentions from the outset.

After winning the toss in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026, being played at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, England invited India to bat first. Everyone was expecting Sanju Samson to carry forward the form from his previous match and provide a blasting start against England as well. Sanju did just that and gave a quick start. The first over was bowled by Jofra Archer for England, and the right-handed batter could not score runs on the first two balls.

See Also: Watch: Sanju Samson smashes 26-ball fifty in IND vs ENG T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-final 2

However, the length of the third ball was short, and taking full advantage of it, Sanju hit a four over the fielder at mid-on. Then, Jofra again bowled a short-length delivery, and this time, using the pace, Sanju played a pull shot and sent it out of the fine leg boundary. Thus, the first two scoring shots of Sanju's innings were a four and a six.

Watch Video: 

Picking up from where he left off at the Eden Gardens! 😍

A four to get off the mark, followed by a wonderful six from Sanju Samson! 🔥

ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | Semi-final 2 | #INDvENG | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/L2OuYBUDbL pic.twitter.com/o5vtbIaskx

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 5, 2026

Back-to-back 50 plus scores for Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson made a quick start in the second semi-final against England, and during this, he also got a bit of luck, as captain Harry Brook dropped an easy catch at mid-on off Jofra Archer's delivery. Sanju made full use of this, and, tearing apart England's bowling, he completed his half-century in 26 balls.

Sanju is batting in very good form and has come close to a century. In the previous match against the West Indies, Sanju had missed completing a century by three runs, as India had already achieved the target. However, he has a good chance against England.

Brief Scores: India 160/2 (Sanju Samson 89*, Shivam Dube 18*) vs England

India are set to clash with England in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final on March 5 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The stakes are high, as the winner secures a spot in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8. Both teams enter the contest with strong form and a desire to perform at their peak. India will rely on their blend of experience and explosive talent, while England will aim to leverage their depth and momentum. Fans can expect an intense, tactical battle with every over potentially turning the match.

Their most recent high-pressure encounter came during the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final at Providence Stadium, where India delivered a comprehensive performance to outclass England. Opting to bat first, India set a challenging total of 171/7 in 20 overs. The innings was marked by controlled aggression, strategic partnerships, and timely acceleration. England’s bowlers struggled to contain India’s key hitters, although Chris Jordan provided a bright spot with three crucial wickets. The match highlighted India’s all-round strength and mental composure in crucial moments, giving them the edge in tight, high-stakes matches against top-tier opposition.

Captain Rohit Sharma was the standout performer for India, scoring a fluent 57 off 39 balls, striking six fours and two sixes at a brisk pace. He received strong support from Suryakumar Yadav, who contributed 47 runs, and Hardik Pandya, whose 23 off 13 balls added late momentum. A decisive 73-run partnership between Rohit and Suryakumar for the third wicket laid the foundation for India’s competitive total. England’s Chris Jordan was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/37, but India’s balanced attack ensured dominance. This semi-final promises another thrilling contest between two of T20 cricket’s most formidable sides.

England fell short against India in T20 World Cup 2024

England’s chase in the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final never found any rhythm, as they were bowled out for a modest 103 in just 16.4 overs, falling far short of India’s target of 171. Harry Brook top-scored with 25, while captain Jos Buttler contributed 23, and Jofra Archer chipped in with 21. The rest of the batting line-up struggled to cope with India’s disciplined bowling attack, which consistently applied pressure and prevented any partnerships from flourishing. Every bowler made a vital contribution, ensuring that England’s innings never gained momentum and that India’s dominance remained unchallenged throughout the match.

The Indian bowlers were exceptional, with Axar Patel taking 3/23, Kuldeep Yadav claiming 3/19, and Jasprit Bumrah producing a miserly 2/12 to seal a comprehensive victory. Riding the confidence of this semi-final triumph, India went on to defeat South Africa in the final to lift their second T20 World Cup title. As defending champions, India enter the 2026 tournament eager to replicate that success. Meanwhile, South Africa and New Zealand face off in the other semi-final on March 4 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with the winner set to challenge India in the final on March 8 at Ahmedabad.

Mohammad Kaif has strongly criticized Mohammad Amir for his controversial remarks about Abhishek Sharma and the Indian team during the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Amir sparked a major debate in the cricket fraternity after dismissing Abhishek as “nothing but a slogger.” The Pakistani pacer also predicted that the Men in Blue would fail to reach the semi-finals of the global tournament. His comments quickly spread across social media, drawing sharp reactions from fans and experts who felt the remarks were unnecessarily harsh and lacked balanced cricketing assessment.

Kaif responded firmly to Amir’s statements, suggesting that such provocative comments are often made merely to remain in the spotlight. The former Indian cricketer advised fans not to attach too much significance to Amir’s remarks, as they were not rooted in sound cricketing reasoning or analysis. According to Kaif, opinions expressed without proper evaluation of a player’s ability or match situations should not be taken seriously. He emphasized that the Indian team should stay focused on their performances rather than reacting to external criticism.

"Did Amir really not know that India would reach the semifinals? Of course, he knew that the defending champions would make it. But they say these things because it becomes news. We must not give them importance. There is no need for us to come down to their level and reply," he said on his YouTube channel on the eve of the second semi-final clash between India and England.

I don't have to say more: Kaif

Mohammad Kaif also took a jab at Mohammad Amir by bringing up the match Pakistan played against the USA during the group stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. In that match, Amir bowled a number of wides during the Super Over and was unable to contain the USA batters. Therefore, Kaif implied that someone who could not help his team get a win over the USA does not have much credibility when talking boldly about other players or teams. Kaif also mentioned that over the past two editions of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Pakistan has not made it to the semi finals after being eliminated from contention during the group stage in 2024 and going out in the Super 8 round this year; this is disappointing given Pakistan's long and distinguished history in cricket.

"The loss they faced against the USA in 2024 — it was the same bowler who was responsible. In that over, he conceded only one boundary, but bowled too many wides. His balls did not even land on the stumps. Who got scared against that USA team and made his side lose the game? I don't have to say more," Kaif said.

England will face India in Semi Final 2 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5. England has strategised and played tactically well throughout tournament play, culminating in a second place finish in Group C after winning three games against Nepal, Scotland and Italy. The only loss England suffered in group play was to West Indies where they lost by 30 runs while playing in Mumbai. England then went on to dominate the Super Eight stage of the competition winning all three matches and thereby building up momentum going into the knockout match against India.

India also qualified for the semifinals as the last team to do so in this tournament, having achieved four convincing wins during the group phase. India's Super Eight performance started off slowly with a disappointing loss to South Africa causing some pressure on their chances to qualify for the knockout rounds. Under new captain Suryakumar Yadav, India made a nice recovery and secured their place in the knockouts by winning two critical Super Eight matches. As defending champions from last year’s World Cup, India wants to defeat England in this year’s semifinal like they did last year in order to return to the finals again.

See Also: IND vs ENG Today Match Prediction – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, 2nd Semi-Final | Who Will Win?

T20 World Cup 2026, 2nd Semi-Final, ENG vs IND: Live Streaming Details

T20 World Cup 2026, 2nd Semi-Final, ENG vs IND: Probable Playing XI

England (ENG):

Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Harry Brook (C), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

India (IND):

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has a suggestion for the current head coach of the team, Gautam Gambhir, ahead of the India vs England T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final in Mumbai. Shastri asks Gambhir to consider Kuldeep Yadav for the match, alongside Varun Chakaravarthy.   

The Wankhede cricket stadium will host the India vs England semi-final fixture of the tournament. Traditionally, Mumbai’s iconic stadium offers batting-friendly surfaces. For the Semi-Final, the pitch can act in favor of batters.

If the deck turns out to be a batter's paradise, then the bowlers, especially the pacers, may have to go through a nightmare.  Team India has multiple pace bowling options in the team in the form of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube. Mohammad Siraj is also with the team as a backup option. Assuming the nature of the Wankhede pitch, Ravi Shastri suggests that Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management should play an extra spinner for the semi-final.

Read More: PCB eyes former captain as new head coach after poor T20 WC 2026 campaign

Varun Chakaravarthy proved expensive against the West Indies in the Super 8 match. If he goes costly in the semi-final as well, then it can be a huge trouble for Team India. Kuldeep’s presence on the ground can offer the Team an extra precaution, Shastri feels.

“England has 8 right-handed batters in their top 9. If Varun does not have a good day, there must be another wicket-taking option, team needs someone who can take wickets in the middle overs alongside Varun. Kuldeep should be included in the playing XI because on the Mumbai pitch, England batters can easily score runs against Pacers”, the former head coach said.

Ravi Shastri asks Team India to play Kuldeep Yadav vs England at any cost 

But who can be replaced by the spinner? The former Indian cricketer opined that in place of a batter, the management should include Yadav in the playing combination as a bowler like him can break crucial partnerships in the middle.

“Even if the team has to compromise by dropping one batter, Kuldeep Yadav should somehow be included. A bowler like Kuldeep, who can break partnerships in the middle overs, will be crucial. We don’t know what kind of day Varun will have, and the Mumbai pitch is flat, which makes wicket-taking difficult for pacers”, Ravi Shastri further stated.

The Indian team will face England in the 2nd Semi-Final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium. The Indian team bounced back strongly after losing to South Africa in their opening Super 8 match, defeating Zimbabwe and the West Indies in both their Super 8 matches to secure a place in the semi-finals. In their final Super 8 match, they chased down a target of 196 runs against the West Indies in 19.2 overs. Opening batsman Sanju Samson scored 97 runs off 50 balls, hitting 12 fours and four sixes, and played a crucial role in his team's victory.

On the other hand, England performed well in the Super 8, topping the points table and securing a place in the semi-finals. They defeated Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their first match, followed by Pakistan by two wickets and New Zealand by four wickets in the final match. India and England have faced off five times in Men's T20 World Cups, with India winning three times and England winning on two occasions

Also Read: IND vs ENG Today Match Tips: Safe Picks, Captain Choice & Toss Prediction

IND vs ENG Match Details

• Match: India vs England, 2nd Semi-Final

• Date: 5th March 2026

• Time: 7:00 PM IST

• Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

IND vs ENG Weather Report

Pitch Report - Wankhede Stadium

The pitch at Wankhede Stadium performed exceptionally well during the last match, which saw West Indies score 254 runs. The average score for teams batting first has typically been around 170–190 runs.

• Win Batting First: 50%

• Win Bowling First: 50%

Average Scores

• Average 1st Innings: 187

• Average 2nd Innings: 162

IND vs ENG Recent Form

IND vs ENG Head-to-Head Record (T20I)

• IND Wins - 17

• ENG Wins - 12

Top Batters to Watch – IND vs ENG

• Suryakumar Yadav (IND): 231 runs in this tournament 

• Harry Brook (ENG): 228 runs in this tournament 

• Ishan Kishan (IND): 224 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – IND vs ENG

• Varun Chakravarthy (IND): 12 wickets in this tournament 

• Adil Rashid (ENG): 11 wickets in this tournament 

• Liam Dawson (ENG): 10 wickets in this tournament 

IND vs ENG Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If ENG bats first

• Powerplay Score: 45–60

• Predicted Total: 165–170

• Match Result: IND to win

Scenario 2: If IND bats first

• Powerplay Score: 55–70

• Predicted Total: 175–195

• Match Result: IND to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

IND vs ENG Predicted Playing XIs

India

Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

England 

Jos Buttler (wk), Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid 

Why India is the favourite

• Home conditions 

• Excellent spin attack

• Sanju Samson's recent form

IND vs ENG Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, India are the favourites to win this ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are expected to be the key performers.

Winning chances

IND: 60%

ENG: 40%

IND vs ENG Match FAQs

Q1. Where can I watch the IND vs ENG live match?

You can watch the live streaming on the JioHotstar 

Q2. Who will win today’s IND vs ENG match?

According to our today's match prediction, India are the favourites to win this encounter.

Q3. What time will the IND vs ENG match start?

The match begins at 7:00 PM IST