Co-hosts India will meet New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday the 8th of March. The huge Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the showpiece as the home side look to become the first nation to win the competition for the third time. Two years ago, they beat South Africa in the final in Barbados to draw level with England and the West Indies on two victories. Now, in front of their adoring fans, they are firm favourites to defend their title against a country whose best performance came when they lost to Australia in the 2021 final.
The Kiwis saw off South Africa in the first semi-final. That was a battle between two nations that have often gone close in major tournaments without ever getting over the line. The Proteas would have fancied their chances of returning to the final after missing out two years ago. However, they were easily brushed aside by a rampant New Zealand. The Kiwis won by nine wickets with more than seven overs to spare, making a mockery of their opponents’ 169/8, largely thanks to Finn Allen’s 33-ball 100 not out.
India Pip England in High-Scoring Thriller
A chance to make it back-to-back #T20WorldCup titles for the co-hosts
Read more on India’s journey to the Final ⬇️https://t.co/Z3zb9vL0xv
— ICC (@ICC) March 6, 2026
The second of the semis took place 24 hours later in Mumbai and pitted the hosts and defending champions against the team that won in 2022, England. Harry Brook’s men started the tournament slowly, only narrowly beating Nepal, being outclassed by the Windies and then not looking entirely comfortable in wins over Scotland and Italy.
However, they really grew into the competition. First, they thrashed the other host nation, Sri Lanka, then saw off Pakistan thanks to a ton from their skipper, before making it three from three in the Super 8 with a very solid performance against a strong New Zealand side.
Despite having won five in a row, they were big underdogs against a brilliant India. England won the toss and chose to chase, but they were almost immediately under the cosh as India’s top order raced to 117/1 from just 9.2 overs. Things might have been different had Brook not dropped a very simple chance, putting down the brilliant Sanju Samson, who went on to score 89 from 42 balls. The opener was on 15 at the time, and few could believe that the England captain had failed to hold a simple chance at mid-on.
India’s strong batting lineup continued to smash England to all corners of the ground. Jofra Archer had been highlighted by many pundits as the key for England. However, not only did he fail to take crucial early wickets, he was also ruthlessly dispatched, going for 61 runs.
England fought back a little, but a strong finish took the hosts to a mammoth 253/7. No English bowler went at last than 10 runs an over, with Hardik Pandya (27 from 12 balls) and Tilak Varma (21 from seven) propelling India to a score that their opponents would always struggle to chase.
Valiant Chase Falls Short
Chasing such a huge total has one benefit, bringing clarity of thought. England’s players did not need to wonder how best to approach things; they simply had to go hard from the off and keep attacking no matter what. Scoring 13 from the first over was a fine start, but then Phil Salt was out from the first ball of the second over. Jos Buttler kept swinging but remained miles away from his best. He showed glimpses of his normal self, but a score of 25 from 17 was not enough.
Before Buttler was out, Brook fell, deceived by the ever-brilliant Jasprit Bumrah, and when Tom Banton was caught in the deep after an aggressive 17 from five balls, England were 95/4. India had only bowled seven and a half overs, so the away team were doing well to stay in touch with the run rate, but the loss of wickets was a clear concern.
Brilliant Partnership Offers Hope of Famous Victory
Will Jacks had bowled well and is in contention for player of the tournament. He added 35 runs from 20 balls in a brilliant partnership with Jacob Bethell. The two added 77 from 39 balls, and Bethell batted magnificently, again showing his generational potential. The 22-year-old brought up his 50 from just 19 balls, showing sensational poise, timing, nous and skill.
Bethell would go on to make a century from 45 balls, his first in this format, but in the end, it was the world-class Bumrah who made the difference. He ended with figures of 1/33 from his four overs, and his two overs toward the end of the innings meant England had too much to do. He repeatedly hit his yorkers perfectly, conceding just six from his final over, the 18th of the innings, to leave England too much to do.
Brook’s side needed 39 from the final two, but Hardik Pandya backed his team’s talisman up brilliantly, bowling the 19th over and dismissing Curran while conceding just nine runs. 30 from the final six balls was always likely to be far too much, and despite Archer blasting 19 from four balls (when the game was over), England came up seven short. It really was a fantastic chase, but ultimately it is India who march on to the final as England head home.