Defending champions India held their nerve to defeat England by seven runs in a thrilling second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Thursday, securing a place in the final.

The match was played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where England captain Harry Brook won the toss and opted to field first.

Samson powers India to 253

Batting first, India posted a formidable 253 for 7 in their 20 overs.
Sanju Samson led the charge with a superb 89-run knock, capitalising after his catch was dropped when he was on 15.

He received solid support from Shivam Dube, who scored 43, and Ishan Kishan, who added 39. Captain Suryakumar Yadav made 11, while Hardik Pandya contributed 27 and Tilak Varma chipped in with 21 runs.

For England, Will Jacks and Adil Rashid claimed two wickets each.

Bethell’s century keeps England alive

Chasing 254, England’s experienced batters struggled to build partnerships. However, young batter Jacob Bethell produced a sensational counterattack.

Bethell smashed 105 runs off 48 balls, keeping England in contention until the closing stages. Despite his heroics, the two-time champions ultimately fell short as India defended the total.

Final showdown with New Zealand

India will now face the New Zealand in the tournament final.

New Zealand secured their place after defeating the South Africa in the first semi-final.

The T20 World Cup 2026 final is scheduled to be played on Sunday in Ahmedabad, where India will aim to become the first team to successfully retain the T20 World Cup title.