India vs England, semi-final LIVE: Samson's 89 and incredible hitting take India to 253

In the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final, Sanju Samson's explosive 89 off 42 balls propelled India to a formidable 253/7 against England Key contributions came from Ishan Kishan and Shivam Dube.

Sanju Samson scored 89 off 42 balls to give India a perfect start. Image | BCCI on X

Sanju Samson's incredible 89 off 42 balls and incredible power hitting from the whole batting order took India's total to 253/7 in the second semi-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. Samson (39), Ishan Kishan (39), Shivam Dube (43), Hardik Pandya (27), and Tilak Varma (21), this momentum to give England a record-breaking target in Mumbai.

Sanju gave India the perfect start

England captain Harry Book won the toss and decided to field first. Sanju Samson, the Player of the Match from India's Super 8 match against West Indies, gave India the perfect start. Despite India losing Abhishek Sharma early, India from the onset looked to look for a big score on a flat wicket at the Wankhede Stadium.

With 39 off 18 balls, Ishan Kishan gave Sanju Samson a perfect hand as India reached 67/1 after the first powerplay. While Sanju was dropped on 15 by Harry Brook, he continued taking advantage of a solid start as he reached his 50 in 26 balls.

Read also: India vs England, semi-final LIVE: Suryakumar Yadav surpasses Virat Kohli, breaks this record of the former India captain.

India sent Dube at 4

As the Head Coach of the Indian Men's Cricket Team, Gautam Gambhir, said after the win against West Indies, that batting position in T20 cricket is overrated, India decided to send Shivam Dube after Ishan Kishan's dismissal to maintain the left-right combination on the pitch.

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After Sanju Samson's dismissal off Will Jacks on 89, which is now the fifth equal high score by an Indian in a knockout match in the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav joined Shivam Dube at the crease. After Suryakumar Yadav's (11) failure to go big, it was Hardik Pandya's turn to keep the momentum going for the Men in Blue.

Tilak and Hardik finished strong

Although India were looking to lose the momentum a bit, it was Tilak Varma, whose 21 off 7, which included 3 sixes in a single over against Jofra Archer, and 27 off 12 from Hardik Pandya, which also included a big final over against Will Jacks, took India's total to 253 for 7 in the first innings.

The highest ever successful chase in a knockout match in T20 World Cup history is 193 by the West Indies. For England to break that record and qualify for the final, they will need their top order, including Jos Buttler, to fire with the bat.

Playing XIs

India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

England XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

How to watch the India vs England, T20 World Cup 2026 match?

Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs England, T20 World Cup 2026 match on JioHotstar, accessible via OTTplay Premium.

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