A run-fest lit up the semifinal night in Wankhede Stadium today, on Thursday, as the India national cricket team edged past the England cricket team by seven runs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The win sends India into the final against New Zealand, which will take place at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
India’s victory secured their fourth appearance in a T20 World Cup final across 10 editions. They lifted the trophy in 2007 and again in 2024 in the USA and the West Indies. The team also finished as runners-up to the Sri Lanka national cricket team in 2014.
The semi-final quickly turned into one of the highest-scoring knockout games in this year’s tournament. India piled up 253/7 in 20 overs, the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup knockout match.
Sanju Samson led the charge with a powerful 89 from 42 balls. His innings included eight fours and seven sixes. The knock matched the highest score by an Indian batter in a T20 World Cup knockout game, equalling Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 89 against the West Indies in the 2016 semifinal.
England chose to bowl first. However, India quickly showed attacking intent. Abhishek Sharma struck two early boundaries but departed for nine. Samson then took control and drove India forward.
A key moment arrived in the third over. Harry Brook dropped Samson on 15 off Jofra Archer. The mistake proved costly. Samson soon reached a 26-ball half-century as India raced to 67/1 in the powerplay.
Ishan Kishan kept the momentum going. He blasted 39 from 18 balls. The pair added 97 runs for the second wicket before Kishan holed out to Adil Rashid.
Samson continued to dominate the England attack. However, Will Jacks dismissed him in the 14th over with India on 160/3.
After that, the middle order maintained the pressure. Shivam Dube scored 43 from 25 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav added 11 from six before Rashid stumped him.
India finished strongly. Hardik Pandya smashed 27 from 12 balls. Meanwhile, Tilak Varma struck 21 from just 7 balls. Their late surge pushed India beyond the 250 mark.
Among England’s bowlers, Jacks delivered the most economical spell. He finished with figures of 2/40 despite the heavy scoring.
England began the chase aggressively while pursuing 254. However, wickets fell at important moments.
Pandya made an immediate impact. He removed Phil Salt with his first ball in the second over. Soon after, Jasprit Bumrah struck in the fifth over. Brook mistimed a slower delivery, and Axar Patel completed a brilliant running catch from point.
Jos Buttler tried to rebuild with 25 runs. Yet Varun Chakravarthy broke the momentum. England slipped to 64/3 inside the powerplay.
Tom Banton briefly lifted the chase with 17 from five balls. However, Axar Patel dismissed him soon after.
Amid the falling wickets, Jacob Bethell produced a remarkable counterattack. The left-hander smashed boundaries and sixes across the ground. He reached a half-century in just 19 balls and continued to push the scoring rate.
Bethell then found support from Jacks. The duo added 77 runs for the fifth wicket from 39 balls. Jacks scored 35 from 20 balls before slicing a wide full toss in the 14th over. Axar Patel and Dube combined for a stunning relay catch near the boundary.
Despite the setback, England remained in the contest. They required 69 runs from the final five overs with five wickets left.
However, Bumrah delivered a decisive spell at the death. His two overs conceded only 14 runs. As a result, Pandya and Dube successfully defended 39 runs in the final two overs.
Bethell’s outstanding 105 from 48 balls kept England alive until the closing stages. Yet the two-time champions finished at 246/7 in their 20 overs, falling short by seven runs.
In yesterday’s semifinal game, Finn Allen scored an unbeaten century against the South Africa national cricket team. That innings remains the highest individual score in a T20 World Cup knockout match.
Interestingly, this marked the third consecutive semi-final meeting between India and England in the tournament. England won the 2022 clash by 10 wickets. However, India responded strongly by winning in 2024 by 68 runs.
IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2026, semi-final 2 brief scores: India 253/7 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Shivam Dube 43; Will Jacks 2/40) beat England 246/7 in 20 overs (Jacob Bethell 105, Jasprit Bumrah 2/33) by seven runs.
