India held their nerve to defeat the England national cricket team by seven runs in a thrilling semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Despite a breathtaking century from Jacob Bethell, England fell agonisingly short while chasing a massive target of 254, eventually finishing at 246/7. India’s innings was built around a sensational knock from Sanju Samson, who smashed 89 runs and set the tone for a huge total of 253/7.
His aggressive stroke play ensured the hosts maintained momentum throughout the innings and piled pressure on England’s bowling attack. England’s chase began on a shaky note, with Phil Salt, Harry Brook, and Jos Buttler departing early. However, Bethell produced one of the most memorable knocks of the tournament. The left-hander blasted seven sixes and eight fours in a remarkable 48-ball 105, keeping England in the hunt deep into the final over.
He also received valuable support from Will Jacks, who scored a brisk 35 and helped England rebuild after the early setbacks. The duo kept the Indian bowlers under pressure, raising hopes of a historic chase at the packed Wankhede Stadium. The decisive moment came in the final over when Bethell attempted a risky second run and was run out, finally allowing the Indian players and the crowd of over 35,000 to celebrate a dramatic victory.
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India captain Suryakumar Yadav later admitted that the tense finish had pushed his nerves to the limit. “Was very nervous, heart rate would’ve been 160-175. The moment we entered, it was already 80% full, hope we gave the crowd a good game. Going for the title in India there will be pressure, but the players and support staff will be excited,” he said.
The skipper also reflected on the emotional significance of leading India in such a high-stakes match.
“Unbelievable feeling. Playing in India, leading an unbelievable side. Samson knew what he knew right when he went in,” he added. Suryakumar also highlighted how Samson delivered exactly what the team required in a crucial knockout encounter. “Team required it from him, it was due. I told Harry how much more do we need to score against them. They were always in the chase, but the way the bowlers pulled the game away was unbelievable,” he said.
The captain also praised the contribution of India’s bowlers and the behind-the-scenes work done by the coaching staff.
“You know how capable Bumrah is. We need to give credit to T Dilip, our fielding coach. Boys are responding well. Guys have been going the extra yard, that’s showing up. Till No. 3 all is settled, as soon as we saw Rashid, Dube was the perfect match up,” Suryakumar Yadav explained.
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Earlier, Samson had set the stage for India’s massive total with an aggressive start against Jofra Archer. A dropped catch when he was on 15 proved costly as the wicketkeeper-batter raced to a 26-ball half-century. Samson and Ishan Kishan added 97 runs for the second wicket before spinner Adil Rashid broke the partnership. Late cameos from Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma pushed India past the 250-run mark.
For England, Jacks was the most successful bowler with figures of 2/40, while Archer endured a difficult outing, conceding 61 runs in his four overs. With the win, India secured their place in the tournament final, where they will face the New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad as they aim to defend their T20 World Cup crown on home soil.
