India delay T20 semi-final practice over Lunar Eclipse 2026

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issues an official statement confirming that session will take place from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium

MUMBAI: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 4^th, 2026) The Indian cricket team has delayed its training session ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup semi-final against England due to lunar eclipse 2026, according to Indian media reports.

The team management had originally planned to hold a practice session at 6:00pm as part of its routine preparations for the high-stakes encounter. The board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had also issued an official statement confirming that the session would take place from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

However, it was later confirmed that the lunar eclipse would occur from 3:20 PM to 6:47 PM on the same day. In line with Hindu religious traditions, significant or auspicious activities are often avoided during an eclipse, which is considered inauspicious by many.

After discussions between the team management and players, it was decided that the preparations for such an important match should begin on a positive note.

Consequently, the training session was delayed by nearly an hour and rescheduled to start after 6:40pm, once the eclipse had concluded. Sources indicated that the decision was taken as a precautionary and cultural consideration rather than for logistical reasons.

The reports also suggested that the members of the Indian squad have been observing religious practices during the tournament, including visits to temples in various host cities before key matches.

India secured its place in the semi-finals after defeating the West Indies in their final Super Eight fixture. They are set to face England in the semi-final on Thursday while the first semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa is scheduled to take place earlier.