India Beat England by 7 Runs to Reach T20 World Cup 2026 Final

India secured a place in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after defeating England by seven runs in a thrilling second semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. After winning the toss, England captain Harry Brook chose to bowl first. India’s batters delivered a strong performance, posting a massive total of 253 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs and setting England a target of 254 runs. Opening batter Sanju Samson led India’s charge with a blistering knock of 89 runs off 42 balls, hitting eight fours and seven sixes. His aggressive innings helped India build early momentum. Shivam Dube contributed 43 runs, while Ishan Kishan added 39 runs to strengthen India’s total. England made a determined effort while chasing the target. Jacob Bethell played a remarkable innings, scoring 105 runs and bringing England close to victory. However, his run-out following a sharp throw from Hardik Pandya proved to be a turning point in the match. Other contributions for England included 35 runs by Will Jacks and 25 runs from Jos Buttler. Despite their efforts, England could only manage 246 for 7 in 20 overs, falling short of the target by seven runs. India had earlier gained an early breakthrough when Hardik Pandya dismissed Phil Salt in the second over, caught by Axar Patel. With this victory, India advanced to the final of the tournament, where they will face New Zealand national cricket team. New Zealand had already secured their place in the final earlier. The championship match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be played on March 8 in Ahmedabad.