Will India-England clash again decide T20 World Cup fate?

For the third successive time, India will face England in a T20 World Cup semifinal as the two heavyweights meet at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

Since 2022, their semifinal meetings have carried a special significance -- the winner has gone on to lift the trophy.

The streak began at the Adelaide Oval during the 2022 edition when England thrashed India by 10 wickets to storm into the final. Fifties from Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli powered India to 168 for six, but an unbeaten 170-run stand between Alex Hales (86*) and Jos Buttler (80*) sealed a crushing win for England. They later edged Pakistan by five wickets in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to clinch their second T20 World Cup crown.

Two years later, the script flipped. At the Providence Stadium in 2024, India dominated England by 68 runs in the semifinal. Riding on a Rohit Sharma fifty, India posted 171 for seven before bundling England out for 103 with a clinical bowling display. India then defeated South Africa by seven runs in a tense final in Barbados to end their 11-year ICC trophy drought and claim their second T20 World Cup title.

Now, the rivals are set for another last-four showdown, raising the question: will the winner once again go all the way?

India hold a 17-12 advantage over England in T20Is and a narrow 3-2 edge in T20 World Cup meetings. Both sides have suffered one defeat en route to the semifinals. India, unbeaten in the group stage, stumbled against South Africa in their opening Super Eight game before bouncing back with wins over Zimbabwe and West Indies to seal their semifinal berth.

Their progress also ensures Asian representation in the knockout stage and keeps alive hopes of becoming the first host nation to win a men’s T20 World Cup.

England, meanwhile, lost to West Indies in the group stage but gathered momentum in the Super Eights with victories over Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand to top their group.

Before Thursday’s clash, both teams will know their potential final opponents, as South Africa -- the only unbeaten side in the tournament -- take on New Zealand in the first semifinal at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

With recent history suggesting a pattern, all eyes will be on Mumbai to see whether the India-England semifinal once again proves decisive in determining the T20 World Cup champion.