Last Updated on 1 month ago by Charbel Coorey
Sanju Samson produced a consecutive man of the match performance in a knockout match as India sealed their passage through to the 2026 T20 World Cup Final courtesy of a seven-run win over England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
The match promised to deliver runs galore with two powerful lineups and glorious batting conditions, and that is exactly what transpired as the teams combined for a mammoth 499 runs.
Sanju Samson leads India batting effort
Samson was at the heart of India’s batting effort, making Harry Brook pay a huge price for an early dropped catch. The opener again justified his return to the India team, thumping eight fours and seven sixes in his 42-ball 89 that set India up for the huge score they needed given England had the advantage of batting second.
Ishan Kishan (39 off 18) provided the all-important impact at the other end, combining with Samson for a 97-run stand in 7.3 overs. England were on the backfoot at that stage, and the situation allowed India to tinker with their batting lineup. In a smart move, they sent Shivam Dube higher up the order at number four to keep the left-right hand combination.
Brilliant cameos from Hardik Pandya (27 off 12 balls) and Tilak Varma (21 off 7) ensured the great start didn’t go to waste. India finished with 253, Australia’s winning score in the 1987 ODI World Cup Final, in another sign of just how cricket has changed over the decades.
Jacob Bethell produces memorable performance – now has an international hundred in all 3 formats
In reply, England huffed and puffed in the powerplay but couldn’t quite generate the momentum required. Phil Salt and Harry Brook – two players who could potentially hurt India – were out early. The out-of-form Jos Buttler tried his utmost, but even his boundaries weren’t all perfectly timed. He struck four fours and a six, but scored just three runs off the other 12 deliveries he faced.
England, 64/3 after 5.5 overs, needed a special innings to stay in the game. Jacob Bethell delivered. In another sign of his abundant talent, the 22-year-old produced an exhibition of hitting, starting with an onslaught against Varun Chakravarthy. He then took off, adding another string to his bow in what has already been a memorable 2026 for the left-hander.
Jasprit Bumrah shows his genius once again when it mattered most
Tom Banton and Will Jacks also struck regular blows to keep England within touching distance. 69 to win off 30 balls in such a game usually means the chasing side is favourite. However, the odds need to cater for the opposition having a genius by the name of Jasprit Bumrah in their ranks.
Bumrah gave away just eight runs in the crunch 16th over, which left England needing 61 off the final four. England then took 16 off Arshdeep, taking the equation down to 45 needed off 18 balls – just two more than they needed in their heist against New Zealand last week.
So, India had to win the all-important 18th. Bumrah delivered a hat-trick of pinpoint yorkers to start the over, prompting Bethell and Curran to see him off. England managed just six runs off the Bumrah over and then nine off the penultimate Hardik over, meaning the game was all but gone by the 20th.
Along with Bumrah, Axar, Hardik and Arshdeep produced outstanding contributions in key moments.
IND vs ENG T20 World Cup Semi-Final Reactions: India prevail in high-scoring encounter
Here are some of the reactions to India’s win.
Praise for Sanju Samson as he leads India’s charge with 87 off 42 balls
“You can measure runs, partnerships, and strike rates, but the real stat here is intent. Loved the positive approach with the bat and the cool heads in the field,” wrote legend Sachin Tendulkar on X (formerly Twitter).
“That’s the mindset you want in knockout cricket. Great to see Sanju Samson carry his form into this match and set the tempo early!”
Reactions to Jacob Bethell’s superb 105 off 48 balls
“Bethell doesn’t even hit madly, all timing proper cricket shots , can play so many shots , little improvement against spin, he will cook long term. Unlike other T20 batters won’t be. And that running between the wickets is next level man,” wrote one fan on X.
Jasprit Bumrah’s superb death-bowling gets India home, along with great contributions from Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel
Jasprit Bumrah finished with an economy rate of 8.25 in a game where 499 runs were scored.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll continue to say it as long as he keeps performing. Jasprit Bumrah is the best all-format cricketer in contemporary cricket. He’s an alien,” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter).
“Pandya had no business going for just 38 in four overs on this absolute motorway. Proper big match player. We’ll have his ego-sized hole in our white-ball setup once he retires. Him and Bumrah truly generational beasts we will never be able to replace, at least for the foreseeable future,” wrote another.
India and New Zealand will go head-to-head in the T20 World Cup Final at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
