Hardik Pandya interacts with Dhoni and his son Agastya. (Video grabs)

NEW DELHI: India’s thrilling win over England in the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the iconic Wankhede Stadium produced many memorable moments on the field, but it was an emotional off-field interaction involving Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni and Pandya’s son Agastya that has taken social media by storm.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Pandya played a crucial all-round role in India’s dramatic seven-run victory. The flamboyant all-rounder smashed 27 off just 12 balls to give India a late push with the bat and then returned to pick up two key wickets during England’s chase. He also produced a decisive moment in the field by running out England’s centurion Jacob Bethell, whose brilliant 105 had nearly taken the game away from India.

But the internet was equally captivated by a heartwarming moment after the match.A viral video shows Pandya looking up towards the stands to greet Dhoni, who was watching from the gallery as fans erupted in cheers. During the interaction, Pandya’s girlfriend Mahieka Sharma brought his son Agastya next to Dhoni, creating a wholesome scene that quickly spread across social media.Dhoni was then seen helping the youngster locate his father, pointing down towards the players’ tunnel that leads to the dressing room. The touching moment between the legendary former captain and the young fan — Pandya’s son — melted hearts online.An Instagram user who shared the clip summed it up perfectly: “Moments like these are pure gold.”WATCH: Earlier in the match, India had produced a batting masterclass after being asked to bat first. Sanju Samson led the charge with a blazing 89 off 42 balls, his second successive half-century of the tournament. He stitched vital partnerships with Ishan Kishan (39 off 18) and Shivam Dube (43 off 25) as India piled up a massive 253/7 in 20 overs.England fought back bravely thanks to Bethell’s sensational century, but India’s bowlers held their nerve at the death. Jasprit Bumrah delivered a brilliant 18th over, conceding just six runs, before Pandya’s tight penultimate over swung the match decisively.England eventually finished on 246/7, falling seven runs short despite a valiant effort.India will now face New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, aiming to become the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title.

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.

T20 World Cup 2026 marks the third straight edition in which the two powerhouses meet in the last four. (Image credit: Agencies)

NEW DELHI: A familiar rivalry is set to headline the grand stage once again as India national cricket team and England cricket team clash in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. This marks the third straight edition in which the two powerhouses meet in the last four, having also squared off in the semi-finals in 2022 and 2024.The Mumbai showdown extends what has become a gripping semi-final sequence. In 2022, England ended India’s campaign at the penultimate stage and went on to defeat Pakistan in the final to lift the trophy. Two years later, the roles reversed. Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, India beat England in the 2024 semi-final and carried that momentum into the title clash, where they overcame South Africa in Barbados to be crowned world champions.

Interestingly, in both those editions, the winner of the India-England semi-final eventually lifted the trophy — a trend that adds extra intrigue to Thursday’s high-stakes encounter.At the Wankhede, England have featured in six T20Is, winning three and losing three. India, meanwhile, have played seven matches in the shortest format at the venue, emerging victorious in five. The Men in Blue have not lost a T20I at the ground since December 2017. Their only defeats in Mumbai came against West Indies in 2016 and England in 2012. The two sides have met twice at the Wankhede in T20Is, sharing one win each.Overall, India and England have faced off five times in T20 World Cup history. India hold a slight edge with three wins, while England have claimed two victories, underlining how evenly matched the rivalry has been on the global stage.One of its most iconic moments dates back to the inaugural 2007 edition. During a group-stage clash, Yuvraj Singh produced a piece of cricketing folklore. After a heated exchange with Andrew Flintoff, Yuvraj smashed Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over — the first instance of the feat in T20 internationals. That extraordinary passage of play remains one of the tournament’s defining images and set the tone for a rivalry built on drama and high stakes.When it comes specifically to T20 World Cup semi-finals, the record is perfectly balanced. The teams have met twice at this stage, winning one apiece — and on both occasions, the victor went on to claim the world title.

India vs England head-to-head record in T20 World Cup

Played: 5India won: 3England won: 2

India vs England head-to-head record in T20 World Cup semi-finals

Played: 2India won: 1England won: 1