India held their nerve in a pulsating high-scoring encounter to defeat England by seven runs in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. 

The clash turned into a batting spectacle, with both teams crossing the 240-run mark, but India ultimately defended their total to secure a place in the final against New Zealand. 

After being put into bat, India produced one of their most explosive batting displays of the tournament, finishing with a massive total of 253/7 in 20 overs.

England fought hard in reply and pushed the chase deep thanks to a sensational century from Jacob Bethell, but the Indian bowlers held their composure in the final overs to seal a memorable win.

Best performers

Sanju Samson’s match-defining knock

India’s biggest match-winner on the night was Sanju Samson, whose aggressive 89 off just 42 balls laid the foundation for the towering total. Samson attacked England’s pace and spin alike, striking boundaries all around the ground and maintaining a strike rate well above 200.

His innings shifted the momentum firmly in India’s favour during the middle overs and forced England’s bowlers onto the defensive.

Samson’s ability to accelerate against both seamers and spinners proved decisive, as India piled on runs rapidly during the crucial phase between overs 8 and 16.

Hardik Pandya’s all-round impact

Hardik Pandya delivered when India needed him most. While he did not play a major role with the bat, his bowling proved crucial in the tense chase. Pandya finished with two key wickets and managed to break England’s partnerships at important moments.

His disciplined death bowling also helped India prevent England from completing what could have been a historic run chase.

Jacob Bethell’s heroic century

For England, Jacob Bethell emerged as the standout performer despite the defeat. The young batter produced a breathtaking innings of 105 off 48 balls, keeping England in the contest almost single-handedly.

Bethell attacked India’s bowling relentlessly, smashing sixes and boundaries with remarkable consistency. His innings turned what seemed like an impossible chase into a dramatic last-over contest.

Worst performers

England’s bowling collapse

England’s bowlers endured a difficult night at the Wankhede Stadium, where the pitch heavily favoured batting. They struggled with line and length throughout India’s innings and failed to contain the run flow.

The inability to break partnerships early allowed India’s middle order to dominate, resulting in one of the highest totals of the tournament.

India’s expensive bowling spells

While India eventually won the match, several bowlers leaked runs during England’s chase. With Bethell attacking aggressively, the Indian bowling attack conceded runs at an alarming rate in the middle overs.

At one stage, England looked capable of pulling off a remarkable chase, highlighting India’s struggle to control the scoring for large parts of the innings.

Abhishek Sharma’s disappointing outing

While India eventually secured victory, Abhishek Sharma endured a forgettable match with the bat. The left-handed opener failed to capitalise on the batting-friendly conditions and was dismissed cheaply, putting early pressure on India’s top order. In a game where most batters found scoring easy, Sharma’s brief stay at the crease stood out as one of India’s few batting disappointments. His early wicket gave England an opening in the powerplay before the middle order rebuilt the innings.

A semi-final to remember

The India vs England semi-final will likely be remembered as one of the most thrilling matches of the 2026 T20 World Cup. With over 490 runs scored across 40 overs, the game showcased the modern T20 format at its explosive best.

India’s batting firepower ultimately proved the difference, while England’s spirited chase ensured the contest remained alive until the final moments.

With this win, India advance to the tournament final, where they will face New Zealand in what promises to be another high-stakes encounter in the race for the T20 World Cup title.