Conventional cricketing wisdom insists that catches win matches. But is it really that simple? Ask R Sridhar, R Ashwin or even Ravi Shastri, and they might hesitate before endorsing such a sweeping claim, especially when the conversation turns to a T20 World Cup semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India return to the famous venue on Thursday, this time to face England, but the ghosts of 2016 linger.

The last time a T20 World Cup semifinal was played at the Wankhede, India held five catches against the West Indies, only two of them made it to the scorecard.

On March 31, 2016, Ashwin forced an edge off Lendl Simmons, caught at short third man. It should have been curtains for Darren Sammy's side. Instead, under the rules then in place, the on-field umpire referred the dismissal to the third umpire, who spotted a no-ball. Ironically, had the catch not been taken, the delivery would never have been checked.

"It was perhaps the closest no-ball of my career," Ashwin would recall later.

He ensured the free hit that followed did not cause further damage, but India were not as fortunate in the 15th over. Hardik Pandya induced another chance off Simmons, this time caught by Ashwin in the covers. Once again, it was checked for a no-ball. Once again, it was one. The subsequent free hit sailed for six.

The pattern repeated itself in the 18th over. Ravindra Jadeja took a fine catch at long-on off Jasprit Bumrah, only for the umpires to rule it a six. A referral confirmed that the fielder had brushed the boundary line. Three catches. Three reprieves. All involving Simmons, who capitalised with a match-winning 82 studded with seven fours and five sixes to earn the Player of the Match award.

"I still can't get over the heartbreak of that night," Sridhar, India's fielding coach at the time, recalls for Cricbuzz. "We thought we had a big enough total on the board, but the subsequent turn of events on the field proved costly for us. We had 192 on the board (thanks to Virat Kohli's unbeaten 89), but with extreme wet conditions due to dew, the total was not easy to defend. Those catch incidents also did not help."

In hindsight, that night served as an eye-opener. India's batting was rich in quality but short on six-hitting muscle. They managed only three sixes, while the West Indies cleared the ropes 11 times - Simmons and Andre Russell accounting for all of them just between them.

Much has changed since. In the ongoing World Cup, India sit second on the power-hitting charts with 69 sixes in seven games, striking one every two overs. Suryakumar Yadav's side are the leading six-hitting unit among the four semifinalists. Yet, curiously, they still trail the West Indies overall - the Caribbean side have smashed 76 sixes in the tournament, one every 10.71 deliveries.

If power-hitting has evolved, fielding remains a concern.

Abhishek Sharma, as seen the other night at the Eden, spilled two straightforward chances in the virtual quarterfinal against the West Indies. Overall, India rank 15th among the 20 teams in catching efficiency - even first-timers Italy sit higher. Among the eight Super Eight sides, India are the worst, with a 71.7 per cent success rate: 33 catches taken, 13 put down. By contrast, semifinal opponents England boast the best record among Super Eight teams, operating at 87 per cent efficiency.

"India cannot run away from this fact as it is out in the open. It could be costly. But there is a great opportunity to correct the course in the semifinal and final. We have world class Bumrah in bowling and batting is an absolute powerhouse. We are able to make up for the fielding lapses with bowling and batting. But a bad day in either department could expose us," says Sridhar, who served as Sri Lanka's fielding coach this World Cup, one of the better catching sides in this tournament.

"The team should look at it as an opportunity to prove to the fans that they are a good fielding side, and I am sure they will come up with their A game on Thursday night."