The T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England at the Wankhede Stadium introduced out the finest in the Indian batting lineup as the defending champions hammered 253/7 in 20 overs, owing to Sanju Samson’s 89-run knock. Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya additionally performed helpful cameos as India posted greater than 250 runs on the board. Dube was trying set to attain his seventh half-century in T20Is for India on Thursday, however it wasn’t meant to be as a horror mix-up in the center with Hardik led to the former dropping his wicket for 43.
The incident occurred on the third supply of the 18th over, and Hardik’s misjudgement price Dube dearly. Sam Curran bowled a pitch-perfect yorker proper at the base of the center stump, and Hardik simply managed to squeeze it to mid-wicket.
Dube then responded to the name and was midway down the pitch, solely to be despatched again by Hardik. There was only a stump to purpose for, and Harry Brook, the England captain, didn’t miss as he struck the base of the stump, sending Dube again to the hut. Hardik instantly raised his hand, apologising to the left-handed batter.
Earlier, England captain Brook gained the toss and opted to bowl. India capitalised on the good batting situations at the Wankhede, hammering 253 runs on the board. Abhishek Sharma misplaced his wicket in the second over; nonetheless, Samson and Kishan didn’t let England off the hook as the duo placed on 97 runs for the second wicket.
Samson may have gone for his century, however he put the crew first, sacrificing his wicket on 89 in making an attempt to go for an enormous shot.
India shatter a number of data
The rating of 253/7 is the fourth-highest crew whole in T20 World Cup historical past. This was additionally the second time that India went previous the 250-run mark in the 2026 version of the event, having beforehand carried out so against Zimbabwe in the Super 8s.
Speaking at the mid-innings, Kishan mentioned, “When I want in, Sanju got a few boundaries. The pitch was flat. We had to get the momentum going. I had to play good cricketing shots. It’s a very good wicket and we have to bowl in a very good manner today. The plan was clear – if the ball there, you go for it.”
India’s innings was studded with 19 sixes, the joint-third highest tally of maximums in a single T20 World Cup batting innings. This was additionally the second time that any crew managed to submit a rating of greater than 200 in a T20 World Cup knockout sport after West Indies’ 205/4 vs Australia in the 2012 semis at Colombo RPS.
