India survived a monumental scare to defeat England by 7 runs in a record breaking second semi final of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In what will be remembered as one of the greatest matches in the history of the tournament, a combined total of 499 runs were scored on March 5, 2026. The defending champions successfully defended a mammoth total of 253/7, the highest ever in a T20 World Cup knockout game, to set up a blockbuster final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
The evening began with England captain Harry Brook winning the toss and electing to bowl first on a surface that proved to be a batting paradise. India's intent was evident from the opening over as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma looked to exploit the short boundaries. Although Abhishek Sharma fell early for 9 runs off 7 balls to Will Jacks, the momentum never shifted. Sanju Samson, who was dropped by Harry Brook on 15 runs, made England pay dearly for the lapse.
Sanju Samson played a breathtaking innings, anchoring the Indian charge with a blistering 89 runs off 42 balls. His knock was a masterclass in power hitting, featuring eight boundaries and seven towering sixes. He shared a crucial 97 run partnership for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan, who contributed a rapid 39 runs off 18 balls. The pair dismantled the English bowling attack, reaching the team hundred in just over eight overs and leaving the visitors searching for answers.
Following the departure of the openers, the Indian middle order continued the onslaught. Shivam Dube proved his worth as a spin hitter, smashing 43 runs off 25 balls, including four massive sixes. Captain Suryakumar Yadav added a quick 11 runs off 6 balls before being stumped off Adil Rashid (2/41). The late fireworks were provided by Hardik Pandya, who scored 27 runs off 12 balls, and Tilak Varma, who blitzed 21 runs off 7 balls to take India past the 250 mark.
England’s chase of 254 started with typical aggression, but they lost wickets at regular intervals during the powerplay. Phil Salt was the first to depart for 5 runs off 3 balls, caught off the bowling of Hardik Pandya. The Wankhede crowd erupted when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Harry Brook for 7 runs off 6 balls in the fifth over, courtesy of a brilliant running catch by Axar Patel. When Jos Buttler was bowled by Varun Chakaravarthy for 25 runs off 17 balls, England were reeling at 64/3.
However, the match was far from over as young sensation Jacob Bethell produced an innings for the ages. The left hander took on the Indian spinners with fearless hitting, reaching his maiden T20I century in a high pressure semi final. Jacob Bethell smashed a magnificent 105 runs off 48 balls, keeping England well ahead of the required run rate for the majority of the middle overs. He was well supported by Will Jacks, who contributed 35 runs off 20 balls before a sensational relay catch by Axar Patel and Shivam Dube ended their 77 run stand.
As the game entered the final stages, England needed 69 runs from the last five overs. Tom Banton provided a brief spark with 17 runs off 5 balls before being bowled by Axar Patel (1/35). The game turned on the 18th over bowled by Jasprit Bumrah, who conceded only six runs to leave England needing 39 from the final twelve deliveries. Hardik Pandya then bowled a disciplined 19th over, dismissing Sam Curran for 18 runs off 14 balls and leaving 30 runs for the final over.
The final over, bowled by Shivam Dube, began with the critical wicket of Jacob Bethell, who was run out by a sharp throw from Hardik Pandya while attempting a risky second run. Despite Jofra Archer striking three consecutive sixes to finish on 19* runs off 4 balls, the task proved too great. England finished their 20 overs at 246/7, falling agonizingly short by just seven runs. For India, Hardik Pandya (2/38) and Jasprit Bumrah (1/33) were the heroes with the ball in the death overs.
Sanju Samson was named the Player of the Match for his match winning 89, marking his second consecutive such award in the knockout stages. During the post match presentation, Suryakumar Yadav praised his team's resilience and described the atmosphere at the Wankhede as "unbelievable." For England, it was a valiant effort that saw them score the highest losing total in T20 World Cup history, but they ultimately could not overcome India's superior fielding and death bowling.
India now heads to Ahmedabad for the final on March 8, 2026, aiming to become the first team to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title. They will face a formidable New Zealand side that defeated South Africa in the first semi final. The win in Mumbai has confirmed India’s status as the team to beat, setting the stage for a grand finale at the world’s largest cricket stadium.