Mumbai: In a breathtaking high-scoring thriller at the Wankhede Stadium, India edged out England by a mere seven runs in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal, securing their spot in the final.
The Men in Blue posted a formidable 253/7, powered by Sanju Samson’s explosive 89 off 42 balls (8 fours, 7 sixes), while Shivam Dube chipped in with a quick 43. England fought valiantly, reaching 246 thanks to Jacob Bethell’s stunning century, but fell agonisingly short.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted he was left stunned by the sheer volume of runs in modern T20 cricket. After the match, he revealed a light-hearted chat with England skipper Harry Brook amid the carnage. “I just told Harry that in front of you people, how many more runs do we have to make?” Suryakumar said. “They were in the match all the time and always close to the target.”
He hailed his bowlers for their composure under pressure. “The way Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and the other players pulled India was incredible. A special performance was seen in bowling,” he added. Bumrah was economical with 1/33 in his four overs, while Hardik Pandya claimed 2/38.
Praising Samson, Suryakumar noted, “He knew what he wanted. Even after wickets fell, he knew the wicket was good for batting.”
The nail-biting contest featured 34 sixes in total (19 by India, 15 by England), underscoring the aggressive brand of cricket on display. With this victory, India march into the final in fine nick, setting up a mouthwatering clash against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.