Defending champions India edged past England by seven runs in a thrilling ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal on Thursday, setting up a summit clash with New Zealand on Sunday.
Sent in to bat at the Wankhede Stadium, India’s opener Sanju Samson delivered yet another masterclass. The Kerala batter blazed seven sixes and eight fours en route to a 42-ball 89, taking full advantage of a dropped sitter by England skipper Harry Brook off Jofra Archer on 15. That reprieve proved pivotal, as Samson punished the England attack with fearless hitting, particularly targeting Archer, who had dismissed him thrice in last year’s bilateral series.
Samson’s dominance allowed supporting batters to play freely. Ishan Kishan (39 off 19) and Samson shared a 97-run stand, India’s highest partnership in a T20 World Cup knockout, while Shivam Dube contributed 43 off 25 balls before being run out.
Hardik Pandya (27 off 12) and Tilak Varma (21 off seven) finished with quickfire knocks, helping India reach a formidable 253 for seven, the fourth-highest total in T20 World Cup history. The innings featured 37 boundaries, equalling the record for most sixes in a T20 WC knockout match.
Chasing 254, England’s innings revolved around Jacob Bethell, who produced a scintillating 105 off 48 balls. His blitz, which included a 19-ball fifty, one of the fastest in T20 World Cup knockout history, kept England in the hunt, with Will Jacks offering crucial support. However, timely interventions by India’s bowlers halted the chase. Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel combined for a stunning relay catch to remove Jacks, while Jasprit Bumrah delivered two icy overs under pressure, including the dismissal of Sam Curran in the final stages.
Bumrah (1/33) was India’s most successful bowler, with Hardik Pandya taking two crucial wickets for 38 runs. Axar Patel (1/35), Arshdeep Singh (1/51) and Varun Chakravarthy (1/64) also struck. England’s only multiple wicket-takers were Will Jacks (2/40) and Adil Rashid (2/41). Despite Bethell’s heroics, England fell short at 246 for seven in 20 overs, leaving India seven runs ahead.
Samson’s blazing innings, combined with supporting contributions and disciplined bowling in the death overs, propelled India into the final and kept alive their bid to become the first team to defend the T20 World Cup title successfully.
Brief scores:
India: 253 for seven in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Shivam Dube 43, Ishan Kishan 39; Will Jacks 2/40, Adil Rashid 2/41).
England: 246 for 7 in 20 overs (Jacob Bethell 105; Jasprit Bumrah 1/33, Hardik Pandya 2/38).
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