England captain Harry Brook believes his team's ability to win closely-fought matches at the T20 World Cup will stand them in good stead ahead of their semi-final with India. 

England booked their place in the final four after a flawless Super 8s campaign, with victories over Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand seeing them top Group 2 and advance. 

However, it has not been all plain sailing for the 2022 champions, having won by the smallest of margins against Nepal, Scotland and Italy in their first fixtures of the tournament. 

They were also beaten by West Indies in the group stage, but turned on the style in the Super 8s, ending with a dramatic four-wicket win over New Zealand in Colombo. 

And they come up against an India side who beat West Indies in their final Super 8s game, with Sanju Samson starring to keep their title defence rolling on. 

"We are managing to scrape along in close games and that is the sign of a good side," Brook told Sky Sports Cricket's Ian Ward. 

"I have learned you are never out of games. I know I have players with a lot of character, a willingness to win, wanting to win a lot, but also that calmness under pressure."

This will be the sixth game played between India and England in the T20 World Cup with the Men in Blue winning three such games while the Three Lions winning two.

It will also be the third meeting between the two sides in the knockout stages of this competition, with both sides winning a game apiece, with India emerging victorious in the most recent such encounter (semi-final in 2024 – won by 68 runs).

World Cup semi-final

Against India in Mumbai

At the Wankhede

A MASSIVE match awaits... pic.twitter.com/VGFTHMInoH

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 1, 2026

England have won 13 of their last 14 completed T20I games, including each of their previous five in succession as they reached a fifth-straight semi-final at the tournament. 

Brook's low-key captaincy has been a key component to England's success, and he offered an insight as to what to expect against India.

"We have had a lot of pressure games and the calmer you can stay as a captain helps in every facet of the game," Brook said. "You can see me holding on to the ball a bit longer.

"I want to have a conversation with the bowler, make sure they know what they are trying to bowl, make them think about one thing.

"For example, with wide yorkers, I am not that bothered about the line you bowl. I just want you to hit the yorker length.

"Unless the batter is scooping, no one is going to hit you for four or six. You can set funky fields but if you nail your length it's usually one, dot or wicket.

"With us bowling a lot more spin now, we do try to get ahead of the over rate and slow the game down.

"It works better in certain situations than in others, but that is the beauty of playing spin. You can use the maximum amount of minutes you have got.

"I always have options in my head. I tell the lads who are potentially going to be bowling the second over. Sometimes it changes, sometimes it doesn't.

"After that it's watch the game, see how it's playing out and try to get the most effective bowler in a situation.

"I want to make it as uncomfortable as possible for the batter coming in at all times."