Team India (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) TimesofIndia.com in Mumbai: 40 overs, 499 runs, 34 sixes, a last-over finish and the entire Wankhede Stadium on its feet singing “Maa Tujhe Salaam” in unison. One could not have asked for a more entertaining game of T20 cricket as India held their nerve to beat England by just seven runs to set up a date with New Zealand in the 2026 T20 World Cup summit clash.The home team longed for a perfect game in the tournament. Although this win was far from it, it was enough for India to reach their fourth consecutive white-ball final. The bowlers had a run-sniffer and although they ran out a lot, their early intent to look for wickets, something they could not do against the West Indies in Kolkata, was evident.Varun Chakravarthy was hit for three sixes by Jacob Bethell, but he responded with the wicket of Jose Buttler. Axar Patel was dispatched for back-to-back sixes by Tom Banton, but the wily customer had the last laugh, picking up the right-hander’s wicket off the third delivery. Before an emphatic reply from the two spinners, India broke England’s back in a power play of huge chases by picking three wickets: Phil Salt, Harry Brook and Jose Buttler.
Stars shine at Arjun Tendulkar’s Sangeet | Mumbai is witnessing a grand celebration
Hardik Pandya bowled the first delivery of his spell and Jasprit Bumrah did the same. Both showcased their experience. The former got some good movement in his first over as Bumrah stunned Brook with a slower ball and then Axar took the wicket to dismiss the England skipper. When it looked like India were firmly in command, Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks, England’s best cricketer in the tournament, brought India together and put India under pressure. But even when England came close, it was the wickets that kept India in check. The next one came just when they badly needed it and this again required a spectacular effort from Axar and Shivam Dube.Arshdeep was reintroduced to break the momentum after the spinners lacked control and the left-hander took three wickets at the trot. His last legal delivery should have at least gone to the boundary before Axar produced another stunning effort, with Shivam Dube completing a relay catch to send Wankhede roaring again.
Bethell special
The pitch was a batting paradise and while every bowler tried to contain the batsmen, Varun’s meek surrender caused considerable concern. Throughout his four-over spell, he lacked the control and penetration of the mystery spinner and consistently erred at shorter lengths. True bounce allowed batsmen to sit comfortably on the back foot and roll into the stands without course correction. He conceded 64 runs from four overs, his costliest outing in the format and the second costliest in the history of the tournament.
Jacob Bethell of England celebrates reaching his century during the ICC Men’s T20 India v Sri Lanka 2026 semi-final match between India and England at the Wankhede Stadium on March 5, 2026 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)
With Bethell keeping England on a tight leash, the required run rate fell to 61 off the last four overs. With two southpaws in the middle, India made a bold call to bowl Arshdeep early. While keeping things quiet initially, he conceded a six and a boundary off the last two deliveries, leading to 45 runs needed from the last three overs.Arshdeep was reintroduced to disrupt some momentum after the spinners lacked control, and after the left-hander sped three wides at the trot, his last legal delivery was set up for at least one boundary before Axar produced another stunning catch, neatly assisted by Shivam Dube, to send Wankhede roaring again. The pitch was a dream to bat on and while every bowler tried to contain the batsmen, Varun’s meek surrender is a cause for concern.Throughout his four-over spell, he lacked the control and penetration of the mystery spinner and consistently erred at shorter lengths. True bounce allowed batsmen to comfortably sit on their back legs and roll into the stands, without course correction. He conceded 64 runs from four overs – his most expensive outing in the format and the second most in the history of the tournament. With Bethell keeping England on a tight leash, the required run rate fell to 61 off the last four overs. With two left-handers in the middle, India made a bold call to Arshdeep early. While keeping things quiet initially, he conceded a six and a boundary off the last two deliveries, leading to 45 runs from the last three overs.
Magical Bumrah
Then came an over that could well have decided which way the match would go as Surya threw his last throw of the dice and handed Bumrah the ball to bowl the 18th over. And he added.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah celebrates during the India-England semi-final match at the Wankhede Stadium on March 5, 2026 in Mumbai, India, where Jacob Bethell of England runs out during the Men’s T20 World Cup India-Sri Lanka 2026. (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)
Six deliveries around the fingers resulted in just six runs, leaving the equation at 39 from the last two overs. Hardik was at the top of his mark to bowl the deciding game. Even after conceding a six off the first ball, he took the wicket of Sam Curran and ended the over with a dot, leaving Shivam Dube 30 runs to defend off the last six balls.Wankhede was on his feet. A mini conference was going on between Dub, Hardik and Surya and the tension was palpable. Centurion Bethell was on strike and his first hit went straight to Pandya, patrolling long-off. England needed Bethell in attack and the youngster tried to steal a second but Pandya’s rocket arm caught the 22-year-old at shortstop to end England’s hopes. Archer kept the score interesting with three sixes but it was too little too late as England fell behind by seven runs.
Another Samson masterclass
The 14th over of India’s innings was the only one in which England did not concede a boundary. On an evening where many boundaries and sixes were hit, Will Jacks’ third over was an anomaly. Boundaries and sixes flew thick and fast in the overs that flashed past the off-spinner as India, riding on another masterclass from Sanju Samson, destroyed England by posting a mammoth total, knocking them out before they even came out to bat.
Sanju Samson of India bats England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler during the ICC T20 World Cup India vs Sri Lanka 2026 semi-final match between India and England at the Wankhede Stadium on March 5, 2026 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)
The bounce was true and with nothing happening over the surface or in the air, India feasted with clinical batting. It was Samson again who put on a real show of attractive hitting to score his half-century. If an unbeaten 97 in a tough chase against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens was the picture of calm, an 89 at the Wankhede had dominance written all over it. He never looked to slow down even when Abhishek Sharma dropped his wicket to Jacks off-spin and the way he bowled the predictable Jofra Archer was clean.Samson was given a reprieve on 15 when Harry Brook dropped a doll at mid off off the bowling of Jofr Archer, but he took advantage and played no chance from there.England played the match card well but the execution of the bowlers was far from satisfactory. They all had double-digit economy rates, with Archer conceding 61 runs in his four overs.The 30-year-old kept kicking at Samson, who came well prepared and stood deep in his crease to withstand another bounce. The only time the right hand got a bit fuller brought the opportunity but Harry Brook missed the keeper to hand the in-form Samson some early life. Samson then added 74 runs from the next 35 deliveries he faced.India cruised and Wankhede roared. Chants of “Sanju Samson” grew louder with each big hit and Ishan Kishan ensured the momentum didn’t drop from the other end as he smashed an 18-ball 39. When the dangerous southpaw was dismissed in the tenth over, India were in control at 117/2. With spin expected to play a role, they dropped Surya and sent in Shivam Dube to heap more misery on the opposition.
Vote
Who was the man of the match for India?
Dube did not disappoint. Even after being dismissed 11 short of a deserved hundred, Samson played his role to perfection by making full use of his long levers to keep 250 within reach. It was another ordinary match for Surya in the knockout or must-win match of the multilateral tournament, but Hardik Pandya covered the Indian skipper’s early exit as both he and later Tilak Varma played strong cameos to take the side past the 250-run mark.India’s innings mirrored their training unit two days before the match as the batsmen operated with considerable intent. The Men in Blue hit 19 sixes and the sixth run made them the only side in men’s T20 history to have six totals in excess of 250 in the format. India have already hit 88 sixes in the tournament, the most in a single edition, and are set to flirt with the century mark when they take to the field for the title at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.Short Score:India: 253 for seven in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Shivam Dube 43, Ishan Kishan 39; Will Jacks 2/40, Adil Rashid 2/41).England: 246 for 7 in 20 overs (Jacob Bethell 105; Jasprit Bumrah 1/33, Hardik Pandya 2/38).
