India will defend their T20 World Cup title after a dramatic semi-final win over England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The hosts posted 253/7, powered by Sanju Samson’s 89 and useful contributions from Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma. The high-scoring contest produced a combined 499 runs and 34 sixes — 19 from India and 15 from England — and left the packed stadium and fans across the country in celebratory mood.
England fought back thanks to a spectacular innings from Jacob Bethell, who made a tournament-topping contribution in the semi with 105. Despite his fireworks and a late surge, England finished on 246/7, seven runs short of India’s target. Bethell’s aggression, including a string of unorthodox shots and big hitting alongside partners such as Tom Banton and Will Jacks at different stages, kept England in the chase but ultimately fell just short.
Key moments for India included Hardik Pandya’s opening over that removed Phil Salt and Jasprit Bumrah quickly dismissing captain Harry Brook. Axar Patel and Shivam Dube combined in a memorable boundary-saving effort that also led to Will Jacks’ dismissal. India’s bowlers struck at important phases to prevent England’s middle and lower order from building the momentum needed to overhaul the massive target.
The win sends India to Sunday’s final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where they will aim to become the first country to retain the T20 World Cup and the first to win it on home soil. Their opponents will be New Zealand, who reached the final after Finn Allen’s record-breaking unbeaten 100 off 33 balls helped overturn South Africa’s 169.
Beyond cricket, the day’s other notable news included the Indian Air Force reporting an SU-30 MKI fighter jet overdue after takeoff from Jorhat, Assam; a search-and-rescue mission was launched. Meanwhile, polls closed in Nepal’s general election, with early trends expected the following day and final results possibly taking several days. In newsroom notes, DW’s Delhi liveblog team handed coverage duties over to colleagues in Bonn as the day’s coverage wrapped up.