Mumbai: Having piled up a record total of 253/7 in the T20 World Cup semifinal against England, Team India would have been excused for thinking they had a foot in Sunday’s title clash.
In the end, the men in blue did set up a date with New Zealand in the final, but not before they were given the scare of their lives in front of a packed but tense Wankhede Stadium crowd on Thursday night.
It was a sensational knock by young left-hander Jacob Bethell (105 off 48 balls, 8×4, 7×6) that almost helped England pull off the biggest heist in World Cup history. Needing 30 in the last over, Bethell was run out to the first ball, beaten by a brilliant Hardik Pandya throw.
Two good balls then by Shivam Dube produced a single each. And despite three sixes by Jofra Archer to end the high-scoring contest, India sneaked through by 7 runs to earn a crack at retaining the coveted trophy at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8.
Besides Sanju Samson’s matchwinning knock of 89, India had several other contributors. Axar Patel’s incredible catch to send back Harry Brook, running back 20 metres to grab the England captain’s mishit off a Jasprit Bumrah’s slower ball, was one of the top moments of the memorable semifinal.
Axar was again in the limelight as he pouched a dangerous-looking Will Jacks in the 14th over, only to realise that there was a danger of crossing over the line. He quickly relayed the ball to Shivam Dube before himself going over the rope to complete one of the most clever pieces of fielding.
Bumrah’s bowling (1/33 in 4 overs) was another huge highlight on a night when most other bowlers leaked runs.
WE ARE INTO THE FINAL 🥳#TeamIndia win by 7⃣ runs in Mumbai 🙌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/LxSBs3EDPx#T20WorldCup | #MenInBlue | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/C6Yh6ZTd7d
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 5, 2026
BRIEF SCORES
India 253/7 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Shivam Dube 3, Ishan Kishan 39; Will Jacks 2/40, Adil Rashid 2/41).
England 246/7 in 20 overs (Jacob Bethell 105, Will Jacks 35; Hardik Pandya 2/38).
Result: India won by 7 runs
Player of the Match: Sanju Samson.
Final: India vs New Zealand on March 8 (Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad).
