India booked their place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Final after defeating England by seven runs in a high-scoring semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The defending champions posted a massive 253/7 before restricting England to 246/7 in a match that produced a record 499 runs, the highest aggregate in a men’s T20 World Cup game.
Sanju Samson led India’s batting charge with a brilliant 89 off 42 balls, striking eight fours and seven sixes after earlier scoring a match-winning 97 not out against West Indies in the Super Eight stage.
India’s innings was supported by quickfire contributions from Ishan Kishan (39 off 18), Shivam Dube (43 off 25), Hardik Pandya (27 off 12) and Tilak Varma (21 off 7) as the hosts smashed 19 sixes and 18 fours.
England fought hard in reply despite early setbacks as Phil Salt, Jos Buttler and Harry Brook fell inside the first six overs.
Jacob Bethell kept England in the contest with a sensational 105 off 48 balls, hitting eight fours and seven sixes to push the chase deep into the final over.
However, Bethell’s run out and disciplined bowling from Jasprit Bumrah at the death helped India seal the narrow victory.
India will now face New Zealand in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad as they chase history by attempting to become the first host nation to win the T20 World Cup, the first team to successfully defend the title and the first to win three T20 World Cup trophies.
