India’s win over England in the ICC Under-20 World Cup 2026 semi-final drew praise from former captain Kapil Dev, who singled out Jasprit Bumrah for his magic under pressure and called him the world’s number one bowler.India defeated England in the semi-final in Mumbai to reach the final of the tournament. They will face New Zealand for the title on Sunday in Ahmedabad.
India in T20 World Cup Final: Small contributions that made a HUGE impact
Kapil Dev praised Bumrah’s performance in the match and said the pacer deserves respect for the way he delivers in crucial situations. He also praised wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson for scoring fifties in the tournament.Bumrah returned figures of 1 for 33 in four overs. While other Indian bowlers were attacked by the English batsmen, Bumrah maintained control during his spell.“It was a victory for the game of cricket. I think he (Jasprit Bumrah) is the number one bowler in the world. The way he plays under pressure, he deserves respect. Sanju Samson has played amazing cricket in the last two matches. There is a final match left. Yes, individuals are important, but when the team plays, you witness the victory,” Kapil Dev told ANI reporters.India had earlier posted 253 for 7 after being asked to bat first. Samson led the score with 89 off 42 balls. England remained in the chase for most of the match until Jacob Bethell’s century.The turning point came in the 18th over when Bumrah conceded just six runs. England needed 45 runs from the last three overs at the start of this over.Kapil Dev also praised the Indian team for the way they handled the semi-final.“It was very good. I didn’t think the semi-final would be so difficult when (the teams in recent times) scored over 250 and then there was such excellent cricket. The Indian team won and I congratulate them. It was a lot of fun. And the fun came not only from the bowlers but also from the batsmen,” added Kapil Dev.India now have a chance to achieve several milestones in the final against New Zealand. They aim to become the first host team to win the T20 World Cup, the first team to defend the title and the first team to win the tournament three times.India booked their place in the final after defeating England in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
