India secure spot in T20 World Cup 2026 final after beating England

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 hosts India national cricket team edged past England national cricket team by seven runs in a thrilling semi-final at Wankhede Stadium to secure a place in the tournament final.

India set up the victory with a massive first-innings total of 253 runs, the second-highest score in their T20 World Cup history. The innings was led by a brilliant 89 from Sanju Samson, while valuable contributions from Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma helped the hosts build a daunting total.

Chasing the huge target, England did not back down despite early setbacks. The side, captained by Harry Brook, lost three wickets during the powerplay, giving India early control of the match. However, England responded with an impressive fightback.

Batting at number four, Jacob Bethell produced a stunning counterattack, smashing 105 runs off just 48 balls to keep England’s hopes alive. Will Jacks also contributed with a quick 35, but Bethell remained the key figure in England’s chase, keeping the scoreboard moving until the final stages.

A crucial turning point came through a remarkable fielding effort from Axar Patel. Attempting a catch near the boundary, he realised he was about to cross the rope and quickly threw the ball back to Shivam Dube, who completed the dismissal of Jacks.

As the match reached its final overs, India’s bowlers tightened their grip. Jasprit Bumrah delivered another outstanding spell in the death overs, while Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh provided crucial support to keep England under pressure.

England required 30 runs from the final over, but their hopes faded quickly when Bethell was run out on the very first ball. Although Jofra Archer struck a couple of sixes afterwards, it was not enough to overturn the deficit, as India sealed a narrow but memorable seven-run victory to advance to the final.