Brief scores: India (253/7 in 20 ov) beat England (246/7 in 20 ov) by 7 runs in Mumbai in the semifinal match.
IND vs ENG T20 WORLD CUP 2026: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
Sanju Samson said that Jasprit Bumrah deserved the Player of the Match award after India beat England by seven runs in the T20 World Cup semifinal on Thursday, March 5, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Samson himself received the honour for his brilliant 89 off 42 balls, which included eight fours and seven sixes, helping India storm into the final.
However, Samson felt Bumrah was more deserving of the award for his exceptional performance in the death overs. Bumrah finished with figures 4-0-33-1 as India successfully defended 253 on a batting-friendly pitch in Mumbai.
Samson described Bumrah as a once-in-a-generation bowler and credited him for holding his nerve under pressure. He added that if Bumrah had not delivered those crucial overs at the death, he probably would not have been standing there receiving the Player of the Match award.
“I’m really happy with how the team performed today. A lot of credit must go to Jasprit Bumrah. He’s a world-class bowler, a once-in-a-generation talent, and he showed that again today. In fact, this award should go to him,” Samson said after the match.
“If he hadn’t bowled the way he did at the death, I probably wouldn’t be standing here. Full credit to the bowlers for backing themselves and delivering in such tough conditions,” Samson added.
HOW BUMRAH BOWLED AT THE DEATH
Bumrah began his spell by dismissing Harry Brook, who had recently smashed a 50-ball century against Pakistan, and conceded only seven runs in his first over. He returned in the 11th over, where Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks struck two boundaries off him as he gave away 12 runs.
Bumrah came back into the attack with England needing 69 runs from 30 balls and once again showed why he is regarded as one of the best death bowlers in the world. In the 16th over, he conceded just eight runs, pushing the required run rate from 13.80 to 15.25.
He followed it up with another tight over, giving away only six runs in the 18th. With England needing 39 runs from the final two overs, Bumrah’s spell had already put India firmly on the brink of victory. Although Shivam Dube conceded 22 runs in the last over, Bumrah’s disciplined spell proved decisive in India defending their total.
In seven matches so far in the tournament, Bumrah has taken 10 wickets at an economy rate of 6.62. He will now look to carry that momentum into the final against New Zealand on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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