Former India opener Virender Sehwag believes India have the firepower to chase down a big total against the England national cricket team in their crucial semifinal clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium. However, the legendary batter also cautioned that having the advantage of playing at home does not guarantee victory in a high-pressure knockout game.

India’s batting lineup appears to be peaking at the right moment in the tournament. After a somewhat inconsistent start, the team delivered commanding performances against the Zimbabwe national cricket team and the West Indies cricket team during the Super 8 stage. The chase of 195 against the West Indies particularly highlighted the depth and aggression in India’s batting unit.

Sehwag believes that if India could pull off such a demanding chase earlier in the tournament, they certainly have the capability to repeat the feat against England.

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“If we can chase 195 against the West Indies, we can do that against England as well. Their bowling is nothing special as such. We are playing in India, we are playing at the Wankhede, our favourite ground, so we have the edge,” Virender Sehwag said while speaking on Cricbuzz.

England, however, arrives with a well-balanced bowling attack. Jofra Archer has spearheaded the pace unit with his raw speed, while all-rounders Sam Curran and Jamie Overton have offered valuable support. The English side has also relied heavily on spin, with Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson, and Will Jacks forming a potent spin trio throughout the competition.

Despite India’s apparent edge at home, Virender Sehwag emphasised that knockout matches demand complete performances across all departments. “But having the edge doesn’t mean that we will win. No excuse will work; your batting, bowling and fielding have to be on point,” he added.

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India began their World Cup campaign at Wankhede Stadium against the United States national cricket team, while England have also experienced mixed fortunes at the venue, including a defeat to West Indies earlier in the tournament. As both teams prepare for the high-stakes semifinal, India will be hoping to finally produce a complete performance against a strong opponent and secure their place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final.