Mumbai, March 5, 2026: India vs England In what will be remembered as one of the greatest high-scoring encounters in the history of the T20 World Cup, India defeated England by 7 runs at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Defending a massive total of 253, the Men in Blue held their nerves against a rampaging Jacob Bethell to set up a summit clash with New Zealand.
Detailed Match Scorecard: India vs England (2nd Semi-Final)
India Innings: 253/7 (20 Overs)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Abhishek Sharma | c Jacks b Rashid | 12 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Sanju Samson (wk) | c Salt b Jacks | 89 | 42 | 8 | 7 | 211.90 |
| Ishan Kishan | c Brook b Rashid | 39 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 216.67 |
| Suryakumar Yadav (c) | st Buttler b Jacks | 18 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 163.63 |
| Shivam Dube | Run Out (Brook) | 43 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 172.00 |
| Hardik Pandya | Run Out (Bethell) | 27 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 225.00 |
| Tilak Varma | b Archer | 21 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 300.00 |
| Axar Patel | Not Out | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Total | (7 Wickets, 20 Overs) | 253 | RR: 12.65 |
England Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Jofra Archer | 4 | 0 | 61 | 1 | 15.25 |
| Sam Curran | 4 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 13.25 |
| Will Jacks | 4 | 0 | 40 | 2 | 10.00 |
| Adil Rashid | 4 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 10.25 |
| Jamie Overton | 3 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Liam Dawson | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 19.00 |
England Innings: 246/7 (20 Overs)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Phil Salt | c Axar b Pandya | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Jos Buttler (wk) | b Chakaravarthy | 25 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 147.05 |
| Harry Brook (c) | c Axar b Bumrah | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 116.66 |
| Jacob Bethell | Run Out (Hardik/Samson) | 105 | 48 | 8 | 7 | 218.75 |
| Tom Banton | b Axar | 18 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Will Jacks | c Dube b Arshdeep | 35 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 184.21 |
| Sam Curran | c Tilak b Pandya | 14 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 155.55 |
| Jofra Archer | Not Out | 22 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 366.67 |
| Jamie Overton | Not Out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Total | (7 Wickets, 20 Overs) | 246 | RR: 12.30 |
India Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 8.25 |
| Hardik Pandya | 4 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 0 | 51 | 1 | 12.75 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 4 | 0 | 64 | 1 | 16.00 |
| Axar Patel | 3 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 11.66 |
| Shivam Dube | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 22.00 |
Key Takeaways from the Match
India’s Aggressive Template: India’s decision to keep attacking even after losing wickets has paid off. Scoring at over 12 runs per over in a semi-final is a testament to their new T20 philosophy.
Death Bowling Mastery: While England was favorites with Bethell at the crease, Bumrah and Pandya showed why they are the best in the business. Conceding only 15 runs collectively in the 18th and 19th overs was the deciding factor.
Fielding Brilliance: Axar Patel’s fielding was world-class. His catch to dismiss Harry Brook and his involvement in the relay catch of Will Jacks saved at least 15-20 runs for India.
Jacob Bethell – A Star is Born: Despite being on the losing side, Bethell’s century at the age of 22 in a World Cup semi-final is a sign of a legendary career ahead.
The Sanju Samson Show
After England won the toss and elected to field, India’s intent was clear from the first ball. Despite the early loss of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson played the innings of a lifetime. Dropped on 15 by Harry Brook, Samson made England pay dearly, smashing 89 off just 42 balls. His knock was a masterclass in power-hitting, laced with 8 fours and 7 towering sixes.
Samson found able support in Ishan Kishan (39) and later Shivam Dube (43), as India posted a mammoth 253/7—the highest-ever score in a T20 World Cup semi-final.
England’s Valiant Chase & Bethell’s Brilliance
Chasing 254 was never going to be easy, but England didn’t back down. While big names like Jos Buttler and Phil Salt fell early, young sensation Jacob Bethell kept the English hopes alive. Bethell played a legendary knock, scoring 105 off 48 balls, bringing the equation down to the wire.
However, the 18th and 19th overs proved to be the turning point. Jasprit Bumrah conceded only 6 runs in the 18th, and Hardik Pandya followed it up with a 9-run over, picking the wicket of Sam Curran. With 30 needed off the final over, Shivam Dube managed to defend the total despite a late onslaught by Jofra Archer.
Final Verdict
India is now just one step away from defending their title. They will face New Zealand in the Grand Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday, March 8th. Can India become the first team to win back-to-back T20 World Cups on home soil?
Player of the Match: Sanju Samson
For his incredible 89 runs off 42 deliveries, Sanju Samson was rightfully adjudged the Player of the Match. His ability to dominate the spinners in the middle overs ensured India never lost momentum.
India and New Zealand final scheduled
After defeating England at Wankhede, it’s time to make history at the world’s largest stadium—the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The final, scheduled for March 8, 2026, is set to be a “high-octane” battle between India and New Zealand.