New Delhi: India captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted the final moments of the semifinal were nerve wracking as India narrowly defeated England by seven runs in a thrilling contest at Wankhede Stadium to secure a place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final.
The defending champions posted a massive total after being sent in to bat, finishing with 253 runs on the board. The innings was powered by an explosive knock from Sanju Samson, who smashed 89 runs from just 42 balls, striking seven sixes and eight boundaries. His aggressive approach set the tone for India’s innings.
Valuable contributions also came from Shivam Dube with 43 runs, Ishan Kishan who added 39, while Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma chipped in with quickfire knocks to push the total beyond the 250 mark.
Despite the huge score, the Indian captain revealed he remained unsure if it would be enough. During England’s chase, he even shared a light moment with opposition skipper Harry Brook, asking him how many more runs India might have needed to feel safe.
England mounted a fierce challenge thanks to a sensational century from Jacob Bethell, who blasted 105 runs from just 48 balls to keep the chase alive. However, India’s bowlers held their nerve in the final overs to restrict England to 246 for seven.
The closing stages of the match proved particularly tense for the Indian captain, who admitted his heart rate soared as the result hung in the balance. The bowlers eventually turned the game in India’s favour with disciplined death bowling.
Jasprit Bumrah once again delivered a crucial spell, conceding only 33 runs while applying pressure during the decisive overs. Hardik Pandya supported the effort with two wickets, while Arshdeep Singh also played a key role in slowing England’s momentum.
India will now face New Zealand national cricket team in the final scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad, where the hosts will aim to defend their title in front of home fans.
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