In the 2026 T20 World Cup, Team India normally scheduled their practice session around 6 PM IST to conduct the training under the floodlights. But because of the lunar eclipse on March 3, there was a slight change in the normal schedule. The Men in Blue will start their practice after the eclipse.
As reported by the Indian Express, the team avoided the duration of the lunar eclipse for the training session. An eclipse is not considered a suitable time to conduct any Auspicious act. As the training session is for the semifinal of the tournament, the team chose to make slight changes in the timings for the practice.
Lunar eclipse forced the Indian team management to push back the training session timings
According to the report, the timing of the lunar eclipse today was from 03:20 PM, and it will end at 06:47 PM, which overlapped the team’s normal practice timings. As per Hindu rituals, the team decided to push back the training sessions.
“The team found out that since it is chandra grahan ‘lunar eclipse’ one should avoid doing anything good. As India is playing the semi-finals against England the team wanted to start on a positive note. Many felt that we can push the practice time until 6:40 PM one should avoid doing any activity. The team management agreed to it and practice was postponed by an hour”, a source informed the Indian Express.
The defending champions were on the brink of elimination from the T20 World Cup 2026
Ahead of any important matches, players and staff often visit temples for prayers to the god. During their course in Kolkata, for the clash against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens, players went to a temple in Kolkata and other sacred places before their game.
The match against West Indies was a must-win event for the winners of the 2024 T20 World Cup, as thehad suffereded a massive defeat in their opening match of the Super Eight. After being defeated by the The Protest, the defending champions went uncertain for the semifinals.
The Men in Blue brigade is all set to face England for the Semi-final clash in Mumbai
Overcoming the early blow in the stage, Suryakumar Yadav and his team claimed back-to-back wins against Zimbabwe and West Indies, respectively, and confirmed their place in the semifinals, along with South Africa, England, and New Zealand.
Team India will face England at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5, for the second semi-final. The winner of the brawl will advance to the finals. In the other match of the phase, the battle will be between South Africa and New Zealand in Kolkata on March 4.
According to the stats, the Men in Blue is favorite to register a win over the Harry Brook-led team. Overall, India faced England in 29 T20Is, where England claimed 12 games; the rest, 17, were won by their rival team.
Read More: South Africa Playing XI vs New Zealand Playing XI – 1st Semi-Final | ICC T20 World Cup 2026
