Can Harry Brook's England bookend troubled winter with T20 World Cup final shot? Jos Buttler rebound key in semis clash with India and Jasprit Bumrah
Published 05/03/2026 at 09:56 GMT
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Can Harry Brook's England bookend a troubled winter with ICC T20 World Cup glory? The task ahead is gargantuan, with India - on their home turf - in the semi-finals, and the impressive units of either South Africa or New Zealand to come in a potential final. What needs to happen for England to come through that first task? Follow TNT Sports' live text coverage from 13:30 on Thursday.
Highlights: Jacks, Ahmed guide England to victory over New Zealand
Video credit: TNT Sports
After all their touring travails in 2025/26, England's men will feature in the 54th and penultimate match of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup on Thursday.
The small task of beating India - in India - in the semi-finals must be negotiated if they are to play the 55th and final game in Ahmedabad on Sunday, against either South Africa or New Zealand.
All told, this represents a big, yet perhaps unexpected, chance for England to win their third T20 world crown and bookend a troubled winter on a glorious note.
Coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Harry Brook went into this tournament under the cloud of a difficult Ashes series down under, with that being compounded by the saga around Brook's encounter with a nightclub bouncer that took place late last year.
All this drove the Yorkshire batter to conclude it had been "probably been the hardest winter of my life" and one that left him needing to "regain the trust" of his team-mates.
It has, to his credit, been a case of so far so good, with the 24-year-old walloping his first T20I century in the win over Pakistan that saw his men qualify for the last four, and his tactical calls together with McCullum - such as bringing himself up the order to come in at No. 3 and the inclusion of Rehan Ahmed against New Zealand - bearing considerable fruit.
Indeed, England have now won five games on the bounce, with McCullum and Brook riding a wave they will hope can carry them past the might of India and into the final.
But they will need these key areas to go right...
Buttler rebound
For so long England's premier white-ball batter, Jos Buttler has had a noticeably lean World Cup so far.
Buttler 2026 T20 World Cup stats
| Matches | Runs | Average | Top score |
| 7 | 62 | 8.86 | 26 |
Just 62 runs at 8.86 highlights how much the 35-year-old has struggled at the top of the order on mostly slower pitches but he hasn't been alone, with fellow opener Phil Salt - equally devastating at his best - averaging only 17.86.
Buttler has a strong backer in Brook though, who sees the keeper-batter emerging from his "rut."
"There’s been a lot said about Jos," Brook said. "He’s played 150 games for England and people need to take a little step back. He’s probably the best white-ball player to play the game.
"He’s in a rut but it’s exciting to know what he could produce in the next few games. He’s got fire in his belly and wants to show people what he’s made of.
"He’s a phenomenal player and I’ve no doubt he’ll go out [against India] and do well."
With India's varied bowling attack likely to pose devilish challenges in both the spin and pace departments, England will be desperate for 'Universe Jos' to rediscover his IPL form of last year at a ground he knows well.
The Rehan dilemma
The introduction of Rehan into the England XI for the win over New Zealand saw the 21-year-old respond in kind, taking 2-28 with the ball and shepherding his side home via some fearless late hitting.
It gave England a new dimension, bolstering the batting as well as providing yet another potent spin threat in conditions that so suit it.
His playing qualities aside, Rehan is an infectious and selfless character, as his words following the win over The Black Caps suggested.
"I'm not too bothered about my place in the team," he said.
"Baz [McCullum] and Brooky will definitely put out the best team they think is going to win, as they did [against New Zealand].
"It's not a personal thing for me - it's a World Cup, it's my first World Cup to be in. I'll just keep enjoying the ride, if I get the nod I'll play, and if not then I'll give water to the boys."
Will Rehan stay in for the semi-final? And if so, can he deliver another defining contribution?
Judging the game state - and the pitch
The Mumbai clash promises to be the toughest test yet of Brook's captaincy credentials.
A game of chess looms. When to bowl Jofra Archer? How to rotate the spinners? When will India deploy Jasprit Bumrah?
All decisions that will need to be made in the white-hot crucible of an India home game at the Wankhede Stadium.
Perhaps most crucial will be not just team selection, but whether England can continue to evolve and adapt in-game, something they have demonstrated regularly during their run to the last four.
The campaign has seen so many ticks for the still nascent Brook-McCullum era and a win over the world's No. 1 team in their backyard would do so much to soothe the scars of the months that preceded it.
There would, though, still be one more giant step to come.
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