T20 World Cup 2026: I am confident India will win the semi-finals: Rajeev Shukla

Ahead of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England on Thursday at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Rajeev Shukla, the vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has backed the team to go all the way. 

Speaking before the knockout fixture, Shukla said he is very confident that Team India will defeat England and enter the summit clash. His comments reflect the mood in the Indian camp after a comeback in the Super 8 stage. 

"I am very confident that Team India will win and enter the final," he told the reporters on the eve of the clash.

Notably, India’s campaign to the semi-finals has not been entirely smooth. The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign saw them suffer a heavy 76-run defeat against South Africa in their opening Super 8 match. That loss put them under immediate pressure, leaving little margin for error in the remaining fixtures.

Sanju Samson's special guide India to semis

Facing a must-win situation against the West Indies, the hosts delivered when it mattered most. The team conceded 195/4, courtesy of strong contributions from Roston Chase, Shai Hope, and a late finish by Jason Holder and Rovman Powell.

In the chase, India slipped to 41/2 in the powerplay. But it was Sanju Samson whose unbeaten 97 not only anchored the innings but also broke records, as he registered the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup run chase, surpassing Virat Kohli’s previous mark.  Samson stitched partnerships with Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube to guide the Men in Blue to a memorable five-wicket victory with four balls to spare. That win sealed their semi-final berth.

On the other hand, England entered the contest in red-hot form, having registered five consecutive wins across the league stage and the Super 8s. Their consistency makes them a strong opponent.