India’s coach Gautam Gambhir, right, and BCCI Senior Men’s Selection Committee Chairman Ajit Agarkar during a training session on the eve of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final on March 7, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI

India’s Captain Suryakumar Yadav and team members with the winning Trophy after India beat New Zealand by 96 runs during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final cricket match on Sunday (March 8, 2026).
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates as India reach T20 World Cup final. (Pic credit: BCCI)

MUMBAI: India, you can breathe again! After 34 sixes and 499 runs were scored across 40 overs, it all came down to one big hit that England could not produce. Eventually, Suryakumar Yadav’s men evaded the proverbial banana peel at the Wankhede on Thursday night and are now in the final of the T20 World Cup.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!England’s hero was 22-year-old Jacob Bethell, who smashed a 48-ball 105 (8×4; 7×6), his maiden T20I century, to give India a massive scare before the hosts kept their nerve to seal a thrilling seven-run win.Having become the first defending champions ever to reach the final, Suryakumar Yadav & Co. will now take on New Zealand in the summit clash in Ahmedabad on Sunday night, hoping to become the first team to defend their title and the first host nation to clinch the trophy.

Chasing 254, England were kept in the hunt by Bethell, who added 77 for the fifth wicket in 39 balls with Will Jacks (35; 20b, 4×4, 2×6) and then 50 in 27 balls for the sixth wicket with Sam Curran (18; 14b, 2×4).However, delivering a masterclass on a pitch which offered nothing but grief for the bowlers, the peerless Jasprit Bumrah (1/33 in 4 overs) conceded 14 runs off his last two overs while Hardik Pandya (2/38 in 4 overs) gave away just nine in the penultimate over of the match, with England needing 39 off the last two.England had to get 30 to get off the last over but could take away only 22 off Shivam Dube as India heaved a sigh of relief. England finished at 246-7 in 20 overs.

The biggest stars of India’s nerve-jangling win, though, were Axar Patel — who pulled off two stunning catches to send back Harry Brook and Jacks — and Sanju Samson, who continued his fairytale comeback by smashing 89 off just 42 balls (8×4, 7×6) to power the Men in Blue to 253/7.Axar’s stunning catch running 24 metres from point to send back Brook was a special moment which brought back memories of Kapil Dev’s famous grab of Viv Richards in the final of the 1983 World Cup at Lord’s. Bumrah, too, deserves credit for that wicket for producing a special slower one.In the 14th over of England’s spirited chase, Axar conjured up magic again. This time, sprinting from deep cover, he lobbed the ball to Shivam Dube before crossing the boundary, Dube caught it comfortably to send back Jacks.

Earlier, apart from Samson’s blazing knock, several power-packed cameos enabled India to have just about enough runs in the bank.Samson is turning out to be the biggest hero of their campaign, a scenario few would imagine when the batter was going through a lean patch not too long ago. Coming off a match-winning 97-run knock against West Indies in the ‘virtual quarter-final’ in Kolkata, Samson put the English attack to the sword.Riding on the raw power of Samson and several other impactful contributions, India raced away to the highest-ever score in a knockout match of the T20 World Cup.England were left to rue a massive mistake from their skipper as Brook dropped Samson when he was on 15, at mid-on off Jofra Archer in the third over. It cost them 74 runs in 36 balls, as Samson was simply unstoppable after that.With Samson leading the way, Shivam Dube (43, 25b, 1×4, 4×6), Ishan Kishan (39, 18b, 4×4, 2×6), Pandya (27, 12b, 3×4, 2×6) and Tilak Varma (21, 7b, 3×6) went all guns blazing.

England’s Sam Curran, right, and captain Harry Brook (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

India piled up a huge total of 253/7 against England in the T20 World Cup semi-final at Wankhede, thanks mainly to a brilliant knock from Sanju Samson. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed 89 off just 42 balls, hitting eight fours and seven sixes, after already scoring an unbeaten 97 in the previous match. He built strong partnerships with Ishan Kishan (39 off 18) and Shivam Dube (43 off 25), putting England’s bowlers under pressure early in the innings.

England captain Harry Brook had won the toss and chose to bowl first, but India started aggressively. Samson attacked from the first over, taking on Jofra Archer and other bowlers with powerful shots across the ground. He also got a lifeline early when Brook dropped a simple catch at mid-on. After that, Samson continued to dominate and reached his fifty in just 26 balls, adding 97 runs with Kishan for the second wicket.The momentum slowed slightly toward the end as England picked up a few wickets. Samson fell while trying to reach his maiden T20 World Cup century, caught by Phil Salt off Will Jacks. Suryakumar Yadav scored only 11, and Dube was run out after a mix-up with Hardik Pandya, who contributed a quick 27 off 12 balls. Tilak Varma also chipped in with a late cameo, hitting 27 off just seven balls.During England’s fielding struggles, former England captain Michael Vaughan joked on social media about their poor catching. “My fielding academy might have to open again,” Vaughan said on X.Despite the late wickets, India’s massive total left England with a very challenging target in the high-pressure semi-final clash.

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (ANI Photo)

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has taken a swipe at head coach Gautam Gambhir following India’s crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa national cricket team in their Super 8 opener of the T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad. The loss, the heaviest ever for India in T20 World Cup history, has pushed the defending champions to the edge of elimination and severely dented their net run rate. Widely backed to become the first side to successfully defend a T20 World Cup crown, the Suryakumar Yadav-led outfit now face must-win games to stay alive in the tournament.

Manjrekar questioned several tactical decisions, particularly the elevation of Washington Sundar to No. 5 during India’s unsuccessful chase of 188 after early wickets. The move came after Sundar was preferred over vice-captain Axar Patel, a selection that had already sparked debate, though team management described it as a tactical call. Speaking on Stump Mic on CNN-News18, Manjrekar used a pointed analogy to describe Sundar’s expanding role in the XI. “Kailas Jeevan, there used to be a medicine by that name back in the day. If you had a headache, you would use it. If you had a stomach issue, you would take it. It was an all-in-one remedy. Gautam Gambhir seems to have an all-in-one solution for everything too, Washington Sundar,” Manjrekar said on CNN-News18’s Stump Mic while analysing India’s batting performance. “If there’s a batting problem, Washi. If there’s a bowling problem, Washi. He was promoted up the order to No. 5 today, and then Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya walked in at No. 7. It was just too much,” he added. South Africa capitalised on India’s vulnerability against changes of pace, with Lungi Ngidi troubling the batters through well-disguised slower deliveries. Manjrekar stressed that this area requires urgent attention, singling out captain Suryakumar Yadav. “Forget fast bowling, focus on playing the slower balls. They are not able to handle slower balls or spinners. The captain is struggling the most against slower deliveries,” he said. India now turn their focus to a decisive clash against Zimbabwe national cricket team. Not only must they win to keep their semi-final hopes intact, but they will also need a comprehensive victory to repair the damage inflicted on their net run rate in Ahmedabad.

Kuldeep Yadav (R) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav. (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s heavy defeat to South Africa in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has triggered a blunt reality check, with former batter Sanjay Manjrekar urging the side to “be humble” and quickly address key flaws to stay in title contention.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!A dominant South Africa piled up 187/7 before bundling India out for just 111. The crushing loss not only dented India’s momentum but also exposed glaring tactical and technical weaknesses.

Reflecting on the defeat, Manjrekar said on his Instagram post, “A big defeat to India against South Africa. So, the first strong team that India has played, and they have not really coped well against that team. But the good news is that India is not out of the tournament.”He added that the loss could serve as a blessing in disguise if India respond correctly.“So what South Africa have done – and we have to be humble and respect the opposition and in a way thank them – is that they have shown us three areas of improvement that we can still work on and end up getting into the final rounds and hopefully win the title,” he said.Manjrekar identified India’s struggles against spin as the most pressing concern and called for a batting order reshuffle.“The first area of concern is an obvious one: India is struggling against spin. So how do you solve that? Try to rearrange the batting order in a way that naturally good players of spin are batting up the order, and people like Tilak Varma, who is struggling a little bit, can come down the order,” he said. He also flagged the team’s vulnerability against pace-off deliveries, including from captain Suryakumar Yadav.“The other thing which was glaring in this game against South Africa was even the pace bowlers, when they take the pace off, Indian batters are struggling. The captain seemed like the one who struggled most now when the pace is taken off.”Manjrekar further stressed the need to strengthen the bowling attack rather than adding extra batting depth.“The third is an easily solvable problem. When the batting is uncertain, not firing, very often you try and get more batting depth. There’s another way to cover that weakness, and that is by having a stronger bowling attack. So get Kuldeep Yadav in.”“So yes, try and make a change that is possible and immediately effective, and then work on the more complex problems… If done quickly, India still have a great chance of getting into the final rounds,” he concluded.

David Miller and Washington Sundar (Getty)

India’s T20 World Cup title defence suffered a significant setback after a crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa in a high-stakes Super 8 clash. The night had begun brightly for the hosts, who reduced the Proteas to 20/3 with a sharp new-ball burst. But what followed was a complete shift in momentum, driven by a calculated counter-attack in the middle overs. David Miller turned the tide with a commanding 63 off 35 deliveries, striking seven fours and three sixes. Calm and assured for most of his innings, he rebuilt South Africa’s total alongside Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs, steering the innings towards a competitive 187/7. However, Miller’s composure briefly slipped during a tense on-field exchange with Washington Sundar. The flashpoint came when Stubbs nudged a single to the leg side and Miller set off from the non-striker’s end. Sundar appeared unhappy, believing Miller had left his crease early before the ball was released, and immediately raised the matter with the umpire. Miller responded by confronting Sundar, leading to a heated argument between the two. On-field umpire Chris Gaffaney stepped in to calm proceedings, and South Africa captain Aiden Markram later joined during the drinks interval to defuse the situation. The precise trigger for the disagreement remained unclear, and the tension did not resurface. Miller was dismissed shortly afterwards, briefly offering India hope. That hope faded quickly. Stubbs delivered a strong late flourish to lift the Proteas to 187, setting India a stiff target of 188. The chase unravelled almost instantly when the in-form Ishan Kishan fell for a duck. India never recovered. Partnerships were scarce, the required rate ballooned, and wickets tumbled steadily. Bowled out for 111, India slumped to a heavy 76-run loss, damaging their net run rate and leaving their Super 8 campaign hanging in the balance.

Pakistan cricket team (AP/PTI)

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign has reached a critical juncture. A win against Namibia in their final league fixture on Wednesday is non-negotiable if Salman Agha’s men are to keep their Super 8 hopes alive. Anything less, and their tournament ends prematurely.The pressure has mounted quickly. After bold claims that this was a stronger outfit than the one that faltered against India in the Asia Cup, Pakistan suffered a familiar 61-run defeat on Sunday. While their clashes with India in the 2022 and 2024 T20 World Cups were tight, they still fell short. Since the Asia Cup, India have now registered four comfortable wins on the trot, reinforcing Pakistan’s struggles in marquee encounters.

Scrutiny has intensified around senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. Shaheen failed to control the game in the PowerPlay or at the death, returning figures of 1 for 31 in two overs. Babar’s issues against spin continue to surface — his strike-rate against spin since returning to the T20I side stands at 101.70 — raising questions about balance and intent in the middle order.Selection dilemmas loom. Salman Mirza and Fakhar Zaman are in contention should the management opt for changes. Pakistan’s heavy reliance on spin — 13, 16 and 18 overs across three games — also reflects a side still searching for the right combination.Namibia, though eliminated, are not without motivation. With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon as co-hosts, they are keen to gather momentum. For Pakistan, though, the equation is simple: win or go home.In the other fixture, India face the Netherlands in the night game. Having already secured qualification for the Super 8s with three wins from three matches, India will view this contest as an opportunity to fine-tune combinations and tick a few remaining boxes.Abhishek Sharma is yet to get going in this T20 World Cup, and the team management will be keen for their No. 1 batter to spend valuable time at the crease ahead of the knockout stage. Getting runs under his belt could prove crucial in the business end of the tournament.There could also be changes in the bowling department. Kuldeep Yadav might make way for Arshdeep Singh, who was included as an extra spinner against Pakistan. With qualification already secured, India may use this match to test their bench strength and settle on the most balanced XI for the Super 8s.

Today T20 World Cup matches – Tuesday, 18 February

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

NEW DELHI: India kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with a win over the USA, but captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted the team had to dig deep after a shaky start. India posted 161/9, thanks largely to SKY’s unbeaten 84 off 49 balls after the top and middle order collapsed. The USA then managed 132/8 in reply, as India’s bowlers kept things under control.

After the match, Suryakumar was honest about India’s batting struggles. He said, “Only I can tell at the position we were in at 77/6, how much pressure we were in… We could’ve batted a little better.” He also spoke about the conditions, noting the pitch and morning light were unusual, but stressed that the team should not make excuses.“It was a little different wicket from what it is always at Wankhede. But at the same time, we knew when we woke up in the morning, we saw outside there wasn’t a lot of sun outside,” he added.Surya, who got the Man of the Match award for his exceptional knock, explained how he approached his innings when India were in trouble, adding, “I always felt that there was a need for a batter to bat till the end. I never felt that it was a 180-190 wicket. I felt it was a 140 wicket.” He revealed that coach Gautam Gambhir also advised him to stay till the end and back himself. “Gauti bhai told me the same thing during the break after the 14 overs. He told me, just try and bat till the end, you can cover it any time,” he continued.Drawing on his experience of playing in Mumbai maidans, he focused on timing his shots and managing the innings under pressure.He also reflected on his personal journey, saying, “I knew definitely someday it was going to come… I was trying to bat in such a way, hold the innings for the team, but it wasn’t happening.”India’s bowlers then stepped up. Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel shared key wickets to keep the USA chase in check. Though Milind Kumar, Shubham Ranjane and Suraj Krishnamurthi fought back with useful knocks, they could not match India’s experience in crunch moments.Earlier, India were rocked at 77/6 after Shadley van Schalkwyk ripped through the batting with four wickets, including a triple strike in one over. But Suryakumar’s calm and aggressive knock rescued India and gave the bowlers enough runs to defend.In the end, India won by 29 runs, an important but hard-earned victory that showed both their resilience and the areas they still need to improve.