Mumbai, March 5 (Udaipur Kiran): India secured a place in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026 after defeating England by seven runs in a thrilling second semi-final at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Batting first after losing the toss, India posted a massive total of 253 for 7 in 20 overs. In reply, England fought hard but managed 246 for 7 in their 20 overs, falling short by seven runs despite a brilliant century from Jacob Bethell.
India’s innings was powered by a superb knock from Sanju Samson, who scored 89 runs off 42 balls with eight fours and seven sixes. Shivam Dube contributed 43 runs, while Ishan Kishan added 39 runs. Hardik Pandya also played a quick cameo in the closing overs as India crossed the 250-run mark.
For England, Will Jacks and Adil Rashid picked up two wickets each.
Chasing a target of 254 runs, England had a shaky start as they lost three wickets during the powerplay. Opener Phil Salt scored only five runs off three balls, captain Harry Brook managed seven runs from six balls, and Tom Banton made 17 runs off five deliveries.
However, Jacob Bethell kept England in the contest with a magnificent 105-run innings, while Will Jacks added 35 runs off 20 balls. England required 30 runs in the final over and managed to score 22, but fell short as India held their nerve in the closing moments.
Earlier in India’s innings, Samson and Ishan Kishan shared a 97-run partnership for the second wicket, giving the team strong momentum. Samson also registered his second consecutive half-century, reaching the milestone in just 26 balls.
In the final overs, Tilak Varma struck three sixes in the 19th over before being bowled, while Hardik Pandya smashed two sixes in the last over to push India past the 250-run mark.
With this victory, India have advanced to the T20 World Cup 2026 final, keeping their hopes alive for the title after a high-scoring and closely contested semi-final encounter.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
