Ahead of India’s high-stakes semifinal against England at the T20 World Cup 2026, India’s bowling coachMorne Morkelhas expressed concerns over the pitch conditions at the Wankhede Stadium for the knockout clash.

According to the pictures of the pitch that have emerged, it suggests that the surface for the knockout fixture has a noticeable layer of grass, hinting that the conditions could assist seam bowlers early in the contest. Such a surface might slightly tilt the balance toward the team with a stronger pace attack.  

India bowling coach on the eve of the contest admitted that certain factors around the pitch remain a worry for the team heading into the crucial encounter. 

"Guys can trust the bounce and play through the line, which can also, as a bowler, bring you into the game. I just feel the margins here are a lot smaller. The ball travels; it's quite a small ground," Morkel said at the pre-match press conference.

The presence of dew later in the evening could make it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball, particularly for spinners during the second innings. Historically, the toss has always been a huge factor at the Wankhede.

"I think dew is always a big concern. But that's again something you can't control: the toss. I think at Wankhede there's always that extra bit of bounce,” Morne opined.

He further shared some of his wisdom on how to tackle those challenging situations on the match day.

"So, you just need to keep fighting through each over, staying in the moment and competing for every ball. Because, as I said, a batter's strength can also be his weakness on this surface. Sometimes it's better not to go too defensive but to keep attacking, as opportunities can arise," Morkel concluded.

Meanwhile, the curators have reportedly left a bit of grass on the surface so that it can hold the moisture for a bit longer period of time, preventing the surface from drying out quickly. With several players from India and England having a decent amount of playing experience at the venue, this clash promises to be a cracking one.