In the big second semi-final in Mumbai, it was England captain Harry Brook who won the toss and elected to bowl first and India have begun well despite losing Abhishek Sharma yet again early. The powerplay has largely gone to them and it remains to be seen how the game pans out from here. England are bowling decently as well. The atmosphere is electric in Mumbai.
India gets off to a solid start despite losing Abhishek Sharma early in powerplay.Â
Put into bat first, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma came out to open for India while Jofra Archer had the ball in hand for England. Samson began well as he stood tall and pulled it over mid-on for a boundary. Samson then got inside the line and helped it on its way over short fine leg for the maximum. Will Jacks took the new ball from the other end. Abhishek welcomed him with a cut shot past backward point and cover point for a boundary. Abhishek danced down the track and chipped it over wide mid-off for a boundary.
But Jacks had the last laugh as he removed Abhishek for 9 off 7 balls with 2 fours to his name. The ball was a tossed up delivery outside the leg stump. Abhishek stepped out of the crease and got to the pitch of the ball. He whipped it aerially in front of square in the leg side and checked his shot as Salt from deep midwicket ran in and took the catch. Ishan Kishan came out to bat next.
Archer continued as Samson swung away over deep midwicket for a boundary. Then a moment in the game came as Samson was dropped on 15 and India’s score was 24 when Harry Brook dropped him at mid-on. Samson then smoked Archer as he pummelled the ball over midwicket for the maximum. Samson then opened the bat face and got it between third man and backward point for a boundary.
Jacks continued as Samson got on top of the bounce and cut it past cover point for a boundary. Ishan got into the act as he stayed deep and pulled it to square leg for a boundary. Jamie Overton came into the attack next. Ishan whipped the ball off the pads to square leg for a boundary. The 50 came up for India in 4.3 overs. Ishan then bludgeoned the ball over cover and cover point for a boundary. India were 55/1 in 5 overs.
Sam Curran came into the attack to bowl the last over of powerplay. Samson took on Curran and cleared his front leg and pumped it over mid-on for a boundary. Samson hung back and cut it away past backward point as the ball went away to the third man fence. At the completion of 6 overs of powerplay, India were 67/1 in 6 overs with Ishan unbeaten on 16 off 9 balls while Samson was unbeaten on 41 off 20 balls. Players took the Drinks Break now.
Ishan Kishan falls, but Sanju Samson’s fifty drives India forward.Â
Adil Rashid came into the attack post the powerplay as Samson welcomed Rashid with a boundary as he pressed forward and crunched it through covers for a boundary. The 50-run stand came up between the two players. Liam Dawson came into the attack next. Samson took on Dawson as he got underneath it and clubbed it over wide long-off for the maximum. Samson got to his fifty in 26 balls. Ishan got down on one knee and slog swept it over deep midwicket for the maximum.
Sam Curran came back into the attack as Ishan flicked it away over deep midwicket for the maximum. The 100 came up for India in 8.3 overs. Samson took on Curran as he pulled it away from the splice of the blade and the ball sailed over deep midwicket for the maximum. Samson then cut the ball between deep cover and extra cover for a boundary. 20 came off this over.
Adil Rashid came to bowl the 10th over of the innings. Ishan used his feet and stepped out to belt it past the bowler towards long-off for a boundary. Rashid though had the last laugh as he removed Kishan for 39 off 18 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes to his name.
Rashid tossed it up around the fourth stump delivery which was a googly. Ishan stepped out and swung his bat across the line and lost his shape in the process. He mistimed it from the toe end of the blade and Jacks at long-off took the catch easily. Shivam Dube came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. India reached 119/2 in 10 overs with Samson unbeaten on 67 off 34 balls while Dube was batting on 1 off 1 ball.
What Lies Ahead.Â
India have started well after being asked to bat first and have raced to 119/2 in 10 overs. Sanju Samson is still there and they have wickets in hand after this as well. Big score on the cards. Let’s see if England fights back on the back half of the innings.
Also Read:Â ICC T20 WC 2026: India Aims To Outclass High Flying England In Semi Final