India inched closer to defending their T20 World Cup crown after edging past England in a gripping semifinal at Wankhede Stadium. The seven-run victory sparked praise from batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who highlighted the team’s fearless intent and composure under pressure. Batting first, India piled up a massive 253/7 — the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup knockout match.

The foundation of that effort came from an explosive knock by Sanju Samson, who smashed 89 runs off just 42 balls. The wicketkeeper-batter survived an early scare when he mistimed a delivery from Jofra Archer but quickly regained control, playing with remarkable confidence and attacking intent. His second consecutive half-century in the tournament put India firmly in command.

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Reacting to the thrilling win, Tendulkar praised the team’s mindset in high-pressure cricket. “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,” he wrote on social media. According to the former captain, that fearless mindset is exactly what teams need in knockout matches.

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. That’s the mindset you want in knockout cricket.

Great to see Sanju Samson carry his form into this match and set the… pic.twitter.com/kYczSjuDhX

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 5, 2026

A star is born! Well played Jacob Bethell 👏 #INDvENG #T20WorldCup26 pic.twitter.com/V2UXeMnp2j

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 5, 2026

Despite the daunting chase, England refused to back down. Young batter Jacob Bethell produced a sensational counterattack, hammering 105 runs from just 48 deliveries after England slipped to 68/3 inside the powerplay. His stunning innings earned praise from former India batter Wasim Jaffer, who called it the arrival of a new star.

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However, India’s bowling unit held their nerve in the closing overs. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah delivered a crucial spell, conceding just 33 runs in four overs while keeping the run rate in check at the death. Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan described Bumrah as the real difference in a high-scoring contest that produced nearly 500 runs.

With the hard-fought win, India have now booked their place in the T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand national cricket team, set to take place at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8.