IND vs ENG, T20 WC semifinal: India set up summit clash with NZ after surviving Bethell scare

The IND vs ENG 2nd semifinal broke many records in Mumbai. 

• Most runs (499) in a T20 World Cup match 
• 2nd highest aggregate in a T20I (After 517 in a SA vs WI match)
• Most sixes (34) in a T20 WC match
• Highest boundary count (73 - 39 fours and 34 sixes) in a T20 World Cup match

India survive Jacob Bethell and England scare to book the final spot. If Sanju Samson set the stage with the bat, it was Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah again with the ball, Hardik and Axar Patel on the field. They came together to deliver the knockout punch as India won by 7 runs. India will face off against New Zealand on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium to defend their T20 World Cup title.

That's the game for India. Hardik Pandya's direct hit from some distance hit the stumps and Jacob Bethell is run out after trying to return for a second. Bethell departs for 105 off 48. England need 29 off 5.

Shivam Dube hasn't bowled today and now Suryakumar Yadav has called him up to bowl the last over. He needs to defend 30 as Jacob Bethell is on crease.

Not bad from Hardik Pandya as he delivers a wicket and concedes just 9 runs, despite getting hit for a six. England need a miracle as they need 30 off the last over. Who will bowl the last one for India?

Hardik Pandya has delivered a wicket and more importantly, a dot ball as Sam Curran departs, trying to go for a big shot. England need 32 off 9.

Harry Brook did that the other day against Pakistan. Jacob Bethell is doing it today. He brings up his maiden T20I century off 45 balls with a six against Hardik Pandya off the first ball. 

Jasprit Bumrah nails the yorkers really well to put the pressure back on England as he concedes just 6 runs in the 18th over. But Bumrah is done and England will look to score in the last two overs. They need 39 runs in the last 12 balls. Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel are next to bowl.

Arshdeep Singh bowled four good deliveries, conceding just 4 runs but a wide, a six and a four followed in the last three balls as it ended in a 16-run over. Arshdeep finishes his quota with 1/51. England need 45 off 18.

After Jasprit Bumrah concedes just 8 runs off the 16th over, Arshdeep Singh has come to bowl his last for the 17th. England need 61 off 24.

England now have a real chance. They have Jacob Bethell on the crease and Sam Curran. All they need to survive is Jasprit Bumrah's 2 overs. England need 69 off 30.

Arshdeep Singh can breathe a sigh of relief, all thanks to Axar Patel. Will Jacks departs for 35 as he tries to hammer a full toss on the off side but Axar Patel runs in and takes the catch, rallies it to Shivam Dube. The partnership is broken. England need 82 off 36.

Varun Chaakravarthy has gone for 50 runs in just three overs. With Will Jacks joining Jacob Bethell in going after Indian bowlers, India are under pressure now. The two have already brought up a fifty-run stand and if they go on for 3 more overs, England will be in a position to chase down 254.

Jacob Bethell hits 19-ball half-century. This is joint-fastest fifty in this T20 WC. He has taken charge of the chase and England need someone like that.

Suryakumar Yadav has brought Jasprit Bumrah back to break this stand. England have matched India for pace, despite losing extra wickets.

As stated earlier, India cannot be complacent. Runs are coming easy. Oh, and a missed run out chance. A good over comes to an end. 10 overs done.

VC is going for a few runs once again. Bethell gets two fours at the start of the over and 100 comes up for England in the 9th over. A play and a miss for WIll Jacks.

Axar Patel comes into the attack and he too is hit for a couple of sixes to start with. And, clean bowled. Banton has to depart for 17 from 5. It is all on expected lines from England.

VC comes into the attack and he gets the correct length. But Bethell plays to the demands of the chase and gets three consecutive sixes. He makes an excellent comeback, and gets Jos Buttler. Clean bowled.

A slower one to start his spell, and Bumrah has a wicket upfront. Brook skies it and AxaR Patel completes a remarkable catch running backwards.

Buttler is slowing trying to find his groove, while Brook is looking in good nick. Wickets needs to come for India. A six to end the over and ENG look solid for now.

Arshdeep is bowling well, but somehow is getting hit for boundaries. Also, India can't get complacent here. They need more wickets. Another four to end the over.

Surya holds Bumrah back. Pandya into the attack and he starts with a delivery swining away. Salt skies it and Axar takes a simple catch. Just two runs from the over.

Arshdeep starts and it is the same old story -- England are away with the scoring as well. Boundaries seem to be coming easy. Three runs come in the over.

The impact Sanju Samson has, when he fires

If you are a Sanju Samson fan, like I am, this was a treat. Great timing, calmness and a refreshingly selfless attitude. That is why we keep saying he just gets T20 cricket.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 5, 2026

India post the highest total of a knockout match in T20 World Cup. 

Highest totals in T20 World Cup knockouts

• 253/7 (20) - IND vs ENG, 2026
• 205/4 (20) - WI vs AUS, 2012
• 197/7 (19.5) - AUS vs PAK, 2010
• 196/3 (19.4) - WI vs IND, 2016
• 192/2 (20) - IND vs WI, 2016

India finish things with 253/7, all thanks to Sanju Samson's special 89-run knock. But apart from Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, all batters made good contributions. Shivam Dube hit 43 off 25, Ishan Kishan scored 39 off 18, while Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma hit 27 and 21, respectively. England now need to play out their skin to have any chance against India.

After getting hammered for three sixes, Jofra Archer has the last laugh as he cleans Tilak Varma up with a 149-kph yorker. Tilak departs for 21 off 7. India 236/6.

He was supposed to be England's hero of the semifinal. But Indian batters have ripped him apart today. Tilak Varma smashes him for a three sixes in the 19th over as he concedes over 50 in his spell.

After running Shivam Dube out, Hardik Pandya almost gave his wicket away. Hardik tried to go for a big shot against Sam Curran's slower delivery and miscued it as the bat flew. But Tom Banton could not take the catch.

Shivam Dube just had a lifeline in the last ball but not this time. Hardik Pandya called for a run when there was none. Shivam Dube tried to rush back but an excellent direct hit from Harry Brook ended his 25-ball 43-run knock. India 212/5 in 17.3. With the run-out, he joins MS Dhoni to be only the second batter after MS Dhoni to be run out three times in a T20 World Cup.

Shivam Dube survives after England waste a review. Sam Curran bowled a yorker on the leg side and Dube missed it. While the on-field decision was not out as it could miss the leg stump, Harry Brook took the review straight away. The replays showed that the ball was, in fact, missing the stump.

With the death overs in play, Hardik Pandya has joined Shivam Dube. India's run rate has dipped since Sanju Samson's dismissal. But they are still on course to make around 240.

India lose their captain Suryakumar Yadav as he tried to advance and play a slog sweep. But Adil Rashid bowled a yorker length and SKY missed it completely. Jos Buttler was quick behind the stumps to remove the bails. India 190/4.

Look who is watching India play. MS Dhoni has made a rare appearance. And he has already watched Sanju Samson play a blazing knock. 

The crowd has gone silent a bit after Sanju Samson perished. But Wankhede stadium has their two local heroes in Shivam Dube and Suryakumar Yadav on the crease.

Sanju Samson's wonderful 89-run knock comes to an end. Will Jacks bowled a widish delivery and Samson wanted to go after it. It was not required as he was going after that 100. But for India, it was required. It was a selfless shot, rather than a loose one. India have enough batter to go after 350-run total. He returns to the pavillion with the entire stand giving him a standing ovation. 

An innings of the highest class!

Sanju Samson walks back to the pavilion to a standing ovation from the Wankhede crowd. #SanjuSamson #INDvsENG #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/vYIWvlkY8s

— Dr Yash Kashikar (@yash_kashikar) March 5, 2026

Jofra Archer was brought in to counter Shivam Dube. Instead, Sanju Samson has taken the responsibility with two sixes against him. Was there a talk of match-up before? Samson now won't mind playing Archer every over.

Harry Brook has called in Jofra Archer to get a wicket. Shivam Dube has done enough damage already and Archer will be crucial against him and Sanju Samson.

Gautam Gambhir sent in Shivam Dube ahead to counter Adil Rashid threat. And he is doing that perfectly. He smashes Rashid for 15 in the 12th over as India get to 145/2.

Not Tilak Varma or Suryakumar Yadav. Shivam Dube has come to the crease to partner Sanju Samson after Ishan Kishan fell.

The 97-run stand is broken as Ishan Kishan departs. Ishan tried to go for a big shot against Adil Rashid but the ball touched the toe-end of his bat and had no timing. Will Jacks made no mistake with the catch. India 117/2 in 9.3.

India bring up 100 in just 8.3 overs after Ishan Kishan hit Sam Curran for a six. Both Ishan and Sanju and have taken charge now.

Sanju Samson brings up his second consecutive fifty as he smashes Liam Dawson for a six. He brings up his fifty off 26 balls. This is what confidence could do. That unbeaten 97 against West Indies was the breakthrough he needed to get back in form. 

After Adil Rashid, Harry Brook brings in Liam Dawson from the other end. Ishan Kishan will fancy his chances against the left-arm spinner.

Sanju Samson will need to be mindful as Adil Rashid comes to the attack. He has a weakness against leg-spinners. Ask Wanindu Hasaranga. But he has brought up a 50-run stand with Ishan Kishan.

India end the powerplay with 67/1 and it was almost one-way traffic from Sanju Samson, who scored 41 off 20 balls. Ishan Kishan is with him on 16 off 9 after Abhishek Sharma fell for 9.

Even though Sanju Samson has scored the bulk of runs so far, Ishan Kishan is finding his groove with Jamie Overton coming to the attack.

The match-up worked as Sanju Samson played a loose shot against Jofra Archer. Harry Brook was there to take the catch but he dropped it. It was a dolly and Brook will be ashamed of dropping that.

Off-spin was his kryptonite and Harry Brook brought him in to counter that. And, it has worked. After getting two boundaries, Abhishek wanted a third as he tried to go for a big shot on a slower delivery. But had no timing and gave away an easy catch to Phim Salt. Abhishek falls for 9 off 7. India 20/1.

Harry Brook has brought in Will Jacks to counter Abhishek Sharma threat. Abhishek has struggled against off-spinners but here, he smashes him for a four through backward point.

Sanju Samson is off the mark with a boundary. It was not a confident shot and he did not time it right but he lofted it at the long on for a boundary. The next delivery went for a six after Jofra Archer bowled short on the leg side and Samson pulled it for a six over the fine leg.

Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson begin. Samson played the knock of his career in the last match. Now, it's time for Abhishek Sharma to finally show up. He has had a poor run apart from the fifty.

It's time for the national anthems as players make their way to the field. This is also the last time for one team to see their national anthem play in this T20 World Cup.

It's Sanju Samson vs Jofra Archer. Samson had a torrid time against Archer's pace in the IND vs ENG T20 series last year. And that also triggered his downfall. But after his unbeaten 97 against West Indies, will Samson regain that confidence against Archer?

Archer has conceded 25 runs from 23 deliveries thus far to Samson in T20Is, and has managed to dismiss him thrice. Out of these 13 are dot balls, while the Indian opener has managed to strike just 1 four and two sixes. 

England have made one expected change with Jamie Overton replacing Rehan Ahmed. 

Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Harry Brook(c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

India are going unchanged in the semifinal against England. Abhishek Sharma keeps his place.

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

England captain Harry Brook has won the all-important toss and opted to bowl first.

Former India captain and defending T20 World Cup-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, is in the house. He meets Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the toss. 

There will be dew around and with the grass off the Wankhede pitch, spin could be a factor. But the dew will make the toss very important as chasing could be easier on this surface. Ian Bishop says that the groundsmen have sprayed anti-dew solution. 

#WATCH | #ICCT20WorldCup | Team England arrives at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai where they will face India in the semi final, this evening. The winner will face New Zealand in the final on 8th March in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/W42jYAmd1V

— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2026

#WATCH | #ICCT20WorldCup | Team India arrives at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai where they will face England in the semi final, this evening. The winner will face New Zealand in the final on 8th March in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/VkOmzGvfHZ

— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2026

This is a “clash of philosophies.” India has relied on their explosive middle order and the surgical precision of Jasprit Bumrah. England, on the other hand, has been relentless with their “all-out attack” approach under Harry Brook’s leadership. Read more on who will win the IND vs ENG contest here.

VIDEO | T20 World Cup: Fans in Mumbai are upbeat, and hoping for India's win in the semi-final game against England to be played tonight at the Wankhede Stadium.#T20WorldCup #IndiavsEngland #Mumbai #WankhedeStadium pic.twitter.com/4wtosn6pK5

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 5, 2026

VIDEO | Ahead of India's semifinal clash against England in the T20 World Cup, cricketer Ishan Kishan's childhood coach, Uttam Mazumdar, says, “I have very high expectations for today’s India-England match at Wankhede. It’s a very important game, the semifinal, and I am fully… pic.twitter.com/j6ZGKWT43H

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 5, 2026

India is just the best team in ICC knockouts

Win percentage of teams in knockout games in ICC white ball tournaments:

🇮🇳-66.66
🌴-65.21
🇦🇺-62.85
🇱🇰-52
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿-42.85
🇵🇰-40.74
🇳🇿-37.93
🇿🇦-27.27

Bangladesh,Kenya, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan have never won a designated QF/SF/Final game in ICC tournaments.

— Spandan Roy (@talksports45) March 5, 2026

So many match ups to look forward to

India v England and the contest promises to be a blockbuster

So many match-ups

1) Salt v Arshdeep - there's movement early on with the new ball

2) Jos Buttler v Jasprit Bumrah - expecting Bumrah to bowl the 2nd over

3) Harry Brook v Varun Chakravarthy - Brook goes for his…

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) March 5, 2026

Dew will most likely come into play and both Brook and Suryakumar Yadav would look to bowl first. But then toss is pure luck, and India should be prepared to defend as well.

The craze for cricket in India is next level

Road to Wankhede 🙏🧿🧿🧿 pic.twitter.com/tTDNaaGjhm

— Abhyudaya Mohan (@AbhyudayaMohan) March 5, 2026

The clock is ticking and exactly three hours remain for the match to begin. Crowds have started entering the Wankhede Stadium; if you're in and around that area, beware of the traffic.

On the other hand, the form of Jos Buttler and Phil Salt is a major concern. The duo are yet to set the stage on fire, but tonight could be the game, where they go all out.

Do India need to ring in any changes to the playing XI from last game? On paper everything seems fine, but to add element of surprise, maybe team can look at Kuldeep Yadav.

The Wankhede pitch for this semi-final shows a greener tinge than usual for T20s, with some grass cover even by red-soil standards. That is a hint of assistance for pacers early on due to the surface used in recent matches. While traditionally a high-scoring batter's paradise with short boundaries, true bounce, and flat conditions, the 2026 tournament has seen more balanced outcomes here. 

The average first-innings scores have been around 160 across recent games, with help for bowlers initially before easing up. Morne Morkel anticipates a high-scoring contest despite the grass, so 180+ total is possible. In the last match, West Indies smashed 254 runs against Zimbabwe. But with dew likely to be present, it will be a chasing game.

India holds the edge overall in T20Is against England, winning 17 out of 29 matches. In T20 World Cups, India have 3 wins to England’s 2 in five games.

• Matches Played: 29
• India Wins: 17
• England Wins: 12

Similar to India, England haven’t played a perfect game yet. In their last Super 8 game, Will Jacks once again came to the rescue. Before that, it took an innings of a lifetime by Harry Brook to beat Pakistan.

With Jos Buttler continuing to struggle and Phil Salt ebbing and flowing, England need their batters to step up. At the same time, their spinners will be tested against India’s explosive batters. 

India and England face off in the T20 World Cup semifinal for a third straight time. England won in 2022, while India beat them in 2024. As they face off for a third time, the aim will be to deliver a flawless performance. Neither India nor England have managed to deliver a perfect match. 

Despite not playing a perfect match, India have managed to pull through with six match winners. Someone has always stepped up. Even an out-of-form Sanju Samson played the innings of his life against West Indies. 

However, in the semifinal, India need the entire unit to step up. Varun Chakaravarthy and Arshdeep Singh have both been erratic. In the batting, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav have blown hot and cold. Their fielding has been one of the worst in this T20 World Cup, with a catching efficiency worse than Pakistan's. India need to sort those areas out.