India edged past England in the second semi-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium. After being invited to bat first, India posted a huge total of 253/7 in 20 overs, thanks to a blazing 89-run knock by Sanju Samson. Will Jacks (2/40 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler for England, while Adil Rashid also took two wickets.

In reply, England came close to chasing the target but eventually lost the match by just seven runs. Jacob Bethell played a superb knock of 105 runs off 48 balls, but his effort fell short in the end. Jasprit Bumrah’s death-over bowling (1/33 in 4 overs) proved crucial, while Hardik Pandya (2/38 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler for India.

With this thrilling win, India secured their place in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday, keeping their title hopes alive after one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament.

Samson Leads India’s Massive Total

India posted a daunting total of 253, setting England a massive target of 254 runs to win.

Sanju Samson once again delivered when his team needed him most. After scoring 97 not out against West Indies earlier in the tournament, he followed it up with another crucial knock. Samson hammered 89 runs from just 42 balls, attacking England’s bowlers from the start.

England had early chances to stop Samson, but a costly mistake allowed him to dominate the game. In the third over, England captain Harry Brook dropped a simple catch at mid-on when Samson was on just 15 runs. The dropped chance proved extremely expensive.

Soon after the miss, Samson punished England by smashing Jofra Archer for a huge six over the leg side.

India Dominate the Powerplay

India’s aggressive start quickly put England under pressure. By the end of the powerplay, India had raced to 67 runs, building the platform for a huge total.

Although Ishan Kishan contributed with a quick 39 from 18 balls, Samson remained the central figure in the innings. He consistently targeted England’s bowlers and kept the scoreboard moving rapidly.

England struggled to control the scoring rate. Archer, who had dismissed Samson several times in previous meetings, endured a difficult spell and finished his early overs without success.

Middle Overs Turn Into a Run Storm

India’s momentum continued during the middle overs.

England tried several bowling options, including Jamie Overton and Sam Curran, but neither could slow down the scoring. When spinner Liam Dawson was introduced, the pressure only increased.

Samson and Kishan immediately attacked Dawson, hitting two sixes in a single over and collecting 19 runs. That spell effectively removed Dawson as a reliable bowling option for the rest of the innings.

India crossed 112 for 1 after nine overs, putting them firmly in control.

Dube and Hardik Add Late Firepower

After Kishan was dismissed, Shivam Dube continued India’s aggressive approach. He smashed multiple sixes, including two powerful hits off Adil Rashid.

Samson eventually fell after reaching the 80s, but by then the damage had already been done. Since India’s must-win match earlier in the tournament, Samson had scored 186 runs from just 92 balls across two games.

In the closing overs, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya added the finishing touches.

Archer endured a nightmare spell, finishing with 1 for 61, while Varma hit three sixes in four balls. Hardik then launched two more sixes to take India past the 250-run mark, giving them a huge total to defend.

England’s Chase Starts Aggressively

England began their chase with positive intent. Phil Salt hit the first ball for four, and Jos Buttler quickly found the boundary as well. But India had a powerful weapon waiting. Instead of starting with him, India held Jasprit Bumrah back strategically while Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya tested the English batters early.

The move worked. Salt soon fell after edging Hardik’s outswinger to cover.

Axar Patel’s Stunning Fielding Turns the Game

India’s fielding played a decisive role in the match.

Axar Patel produced two outstanding efforts in the field. The first came at deep cover where he took a brilliant catch to dismiss Harry Brook.

The second moment was even more spectacular. Axar completed a running relay catch at deep backward point to dismiss Will Jacks, who had been building a dangerous partnership with Bethell.

These two fielding moments significantly slowed England’s momentum.

Bethell Produces a Stunning Century

Despite the setbacks, Jacob Bethell delivered one of the most exciting innings of the tournament.

The young England batter played fearless cricket, attacking bowlers across the ground. He smashed boundaries in all directions and formed a 77-run partnership with Will Jacks, briefly reviving England’s hopes.

Bethell eventually scored 105 runs from 48 balls, producing an innings that kept England alive in the chase deep into the match.

Bumrah Controls the Death Overs

Even with Bethell’s heroics, England faced a tough task as the required run rate kept rising. At crucial moments, India turned to Jasprit Bumrah. His return to the attack proved decisive.

Bumrah delivered a series of accurate yorkers and tight overs that slowed England’s scoring dramatically. One particular over conceded only eight runs, which proved vital at that stage of the chase.

When England needed 45 runs from 18 balls, Bumrah bowled another superb over, allowing just six runs. This left England requiring back-to-back 20-run overs, effectively ending their chances.

England Fall Short Despite Brave Fight

England continued swinging for boundaries until the end, but the target was simply too large. Eventually, India’s bowlers held their nerve and restricted England, leaving them 30 runs short in the final over.

Although England lost, Bethell’s remarkable century stood out as one of the finest innings of the tournament.