In what was a high-scoring contest at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Team India did just enough, holding their nerve to beat England in the second semi-final of T20 World Cup 2026, setting up a decider against New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Jacob Bethell scored a spirited hundred but the total of 253 proved a bridge too far but the Englishmen finished only seven runs short to be eliminated from the 20-team tournament.
Here are the five key moments from the T20 World Cup 2026 between India and England:
5) Jasprit Bumrah’s 18th over:
When Team India’s ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah came on for his fourth and final over of the innings, England still needed a gettable 45 off 18 deliveries. The right-arm speedster started by nailing three pinpoint yorkers that yielded only two runs, shifting the pressure instantly on the opposition. Despite bowling a couple of low full tosses, England couldn’t get it way for boundaries and the over only went for six, increasing the required rate to 18.
4) Hardik Pandya’s 19th over:
As much as Jasprit Bumrah deserve credit for executing his yorkers, Hardik Pandya also stepped up with the ball in a make-or-break situation for England. Having seen off Bumrah, Jacob Bethell belted a six off the first ball of the 19th over sent down by Pandya, thereby also reaching his ton. However, the star all-rounder came back brilliantly to dismiss the dangerous Sam Curran for 18. Eventually, the Baroda-born cricketer left England with a steep task of getting 30 off the last over.
3) Decision to send Shivam Dube at No.4:
With England bowling an array of spin in the middle overs, the management triggered a masterstroke to send in the bona fide spin-hitter Shivam Dube. Not only did the left-hander hammer spin bowlers but also took down pace to clobber 43 off 25 deliveries, laced with four maximums. Dube’s knock might have proved to be the difference between 253 or 233 as India lost some late-order wickets.
2) Axar Patel-Shivam Dube relay catch to get rid of Will Jacks:
Axar Patel took three catches and a wicket on the night but the one he will surely embrace is how he teamed up with Shivam Dube to send Will Jacks packing. With England at 172/4 at the end of the 14th over and well in hunt of the target of 254, Jacks, who was at 35, slashed a full toss. Axar sprinted from deep cover caught it but threw the ball to Shivam Dube after realizing that the momentum was taking him beyond the boundary line. It broke the 77-run stand between Jacks and Jacob Bethell, giving the hosts a much-needed respite.
1) Harry Brook’s dropped catch off Sanju Samson’s bat:
There were plenty of moment from the match but one decisive that England will reflect on the most is Harry Brook dropping a regulation chance off Sanju Samson’s bat at mid-on when the keeper-batter was on 15. Samson, coming off a knock of 97* in Kolkata, punished England as he plundered seven sixes in his knock of 89 off 42 deliveries, setting the tone for India’s total. Samson adding 74 more runs to his tally will sting the Englishmen the most.
