5 min readMar 2, 2026 08:49 PM IST India, South Africa, England and New Zealand have all reached the semis. South Africa have had the smoothest ride; the others navigated bumpier terrain during the Super 8s.”But what matters in tournament cricket, as the cliché goes, is peaking at the right time — and all four sides have been doing exactly that. That peaking, however, came after some sharp tactical tweaks: new faces introduced, existing roles redrawn. The gambles paid off, delivering crucial wins at pressure points and booking places in the last four. Here is a look at the tactical calls that turned into masterstroke moments. India Tactical move: Sanju Samson as opener Impact: 97 off 50 balls vs West Indies Sanju Samson’s knock helped India beat West Indies and qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals. (Express photo by Partha Paul) India’s top order had grown predictable at this World Cup — three left-handers in a row made it easy for opposition sides to set fields and attack from consistent angles, with off-spinners particularly …