Defending champions India edged out England by seven runs in an all-time classic T20 World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, setting up a blockbuster final against New Zealand on Sunday.
Powered by Sanju Samson’s scintillating 89 off 42 balls, Suryakumar Yadav’s side piled up a massive 253-6. However, a jaw-dropping century from England’s Jacob Bethell (105 off 48) pushed the hosts to the absolute limit before India’s death bowlers held their nerve to seal the historic game.
After struggling to cement his spot over the last nine months and missing out on the initial playing XI, Samson has taken the T20 World Cup by storm. The in-form opener, carrying his momentum from an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies, hit seven sixes and eight fours to thrill the raucous home crowd.
“For a few years now, I have been trying to do something like this for my country,” Samson told reporters. Opening up about his difficult phase, he added: “I closed all my windows, shut down my phone, and stayed off social media… Less noise, fewer people interacting with me. That really helped me focus in the right direction.”
Samson’s intent was clear from the start. After England captain Harry Brook won the toss and opted to bowl, Samson immediately took the attack to Jofra Archer, hitting a four and a six in the pacer’s first over. Archer, who eventually leaked 61 runs in his four overs, was a specific target for the Indian opener.
“I had to be a bit clearer in my head about how I was going to face him,” Samson noted regarding his battle with Archer. “You need to respect what he does, but at the same time, you need to be confident. He’s a world-class bowler.”
England’s fielding didn’t help their cause. Brook dropped Samson on 15 off Archer, a costly error that the Indian opener capitalised on immediately. Boosted by a 19-run over against Liam Dawson, Samson raced to his half-century off just 26 balls.
“I have been unlucky many times in my career. Sometimes, luck favours me too!” Samson joked about the dropped catch. “It was a ball meant to be hit, I hit it, the catch was dropped, no problem. Next time I’ll hit it a bit harder!”
With Ishan Kishan forming a blistering 97-run partnership off 48 balls with Samson, and late fireworks from Shivam Dube (43 off 25) and Hardik Pandya (27 off 12), India posted a daunting 253. The true bounce of the pitch played perfectly into their hands.
“After the first over, Abhishek and I were talking, and we agreed it looked like a great wicket,” Samson revealed. “Abhishek even said we should at least score 250 on this track.”
Despite Will Jacks taking 2-40 to occasionally stall India’s momentum, England faced a T20 World Cup record chase of 254. A rapid cameo from Tom Banton (17 off 5) and Will Jacks (35 off 20) ignited the chase, but it was Bethell who nearly stole the show. His fearless 105 off 48 balls brought England right to the edge of victory.
“They needed 13 runs an over and were getting two boundaries every over; it was looking very easy for them in the middle overs,” Samson admitted, acknowledging Bethell’s brilliant read of the conditions.
However, the turning point was India’s supreme death bowling. Trusting their premium pacers — Bumrah, Arshdeep and Hardik — in the 17th, 18th, and 19th overs proved decisive.
“Bumrah is a once-in-a-generation bowler, and we are very lucky to have him,” Samson said, praising his ability to execute under extreme pressure. “The way he bowled those six yorkers on the line, it gives you the confidence that, ‘No man, Bumrah has one over left, Arshdeep has one left, they will bowl it.’”
England ultimately fell just short, finishing on 246-7 after Bethell was run out in the final over.
As India prepare to chase a record third T20 World Cup title against New Zealand, the team remains firmly united, even rallying behind struggling opener Abhishek, who fell for 9 to Jacks.
“We still believe in him and feel that the final is going to be his day,” Samson affirmed, noting that team leaders Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav are fully backing him.
For Samson himself, the burden of expectations finally feels lighter after two match-winning knocks. When asked if the pressure or burden was completely off, he smiled: “One more match, and then I’ll feel very light!”
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