India Sets Record with 254 Runs Against England in T20 World Cup Semi-Final
Historic Performance at Wankhede Stadium
In a thrilling semi-final match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 held at the renowned Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Sanju Samson delivered an explosive innings, scoring 89 runs off just 42 balls. This remarkable performance propelled India to a formidable target of 254 runs against England, marking the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup knockout match, eclipsing the previous record of 205/4 set by the West Indies against Australia in 2012.
India's Explosive Start
Opting to bat first in this crucial encounter, India's opening batsmen wasted no time, amassing 12 runs in the first over. Samson showcased his aggressive style by hitting several boundaries off Jofra Archer, setting a rapid pace for the innings.
In the second over, Will Jacks was introduced, and Abhishek Sharma managed to score nine runs off seven balls before being dismissed on the final delivery. Ishan Kishan then joined Samson, and together they kept the momentum going with a series of boundaries.
By the end of the powerplay, India had scored 67 runs, losing only Sharma's wicket.
Samson's Dominance
Samson reached his half-century with a six in the eighth over, during which Liam Dawson conceded 19 runs. The following over saw Sam Curran giving away 20 runs as Samson and Kishan established a new record for the highest partnership for India in a T20 World Cup knockout match, accumulating 97 runs for the second wicket. Kishan was dismissed in the 10th over after scoring 39 runs off 18 balls.
Middle Overs and Final Flourish
Shivam Dube joined Samson, and they continued to find the boundary with regularity. Samson was particularly aggressive, hitting two sixes off Adil Rashid in the 12th over and targeting Jofra Archer for more sixes. However, he was eventually caught by Phil Salt while attempting another big shot.
Suryakumar Yadav contributed a quick 11 runs off six balls before falling to Adil Rashid, who became the joint-second highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history with 44 wickets, trailing Shakib Al Hasan's record of 50.
Dube and Hardik Pandya added 22 runs for the fifth wicket before Dube was run out after scoring 43 runs off 24 balls. Pandya finished with 27 runs off 12 balls, while Tilak Varma added 21 runs off just seven balls, helping India achieve the highest total in a T20 World Cup knockout match.
Record-Breaking Achievements
This match marked India's sixth total exceeding 250 runs in T20 format. The team hit 19 sixes during their innings, tying the record for the most sixes in a T20 World Cup innings.
India now holds the record for the most 250-plus scores in Men's T20 Internationals, with notable totals including 297/6 against Bangladesh, 283/1 against South Africa, and 271/5 against New Zealand.
The breakdown of India's 250+ scores is as follows:
| Score | Opponent | Location | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 297/6 | Bangladesh | Hyderabad | 2024 |
| 283/1 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 2024 |
| 271/5 | New Zealand | Thiruvananthapuram | 2026 |
| 260/5 | Sri Lanka | Indore | 2017 |
| 256/4 | Zimbabwe | Chennai | 2026 |
| 253/7 | England | Mumbai | 2026 |
India's 19 sixes against England ties them with two other teams for the all-time tournament record. Additionally, they set a new team record for the most total sixes in a single T20 World Cup edition, currently exceeding 80, surpassing their previous best of 61 in 2024.
Samson has now surpassed Rohit Sharma to claim the record for the most sixes by an Indian in a T20 World Cup edition, with 16 sixes, compared to Sharma's 15 in 2024.
England now faces the daunting task of achieving a historic run chase to secure a spot in the final against New Zealand, scheduled for Sunday in Ahmedabad.