T20 World Cup Semis Set
India clinched their T20 World Cup semifinal spot with Sanju Samson's heroics in the biggest chase ever, while Pakistan edged Sri Lanka in a thriller and South Africa remained unbeaten. The semifinals feature India vs England in Mumbai, with standout performances including Kohli's 82s, Rohit's 92, and Samson's 97.
Sanju Samson's unbeaten 97 came off just 50 balls against the West Indies in a virtual quarter-final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The innings anchored India's highest-ever successful run chase in T20 World Cup history, reaching the target of 196 with four balls to spare. This match-winning knock is now the highest individual score by an Indian in a successful T20 World Cup chase, surpassing Virat Kohli's iconic twin innings of 82 not out. Rohit Sharma's 92 was a blistering assault against Australia in the Super 8s, coming from just 41 deliveries. The Indian captain's innings was studded with 7 fours and 8 sixes, setting a record for the most sixes by an Indian batter in a T20 World Cup innings and powering the team to a total of 205. His fifty came in just 19 balls, the third-fastest by an Indian in the tournament's history. The mention of Virat Kohli's 82s refers to two of the most celebrated T20 innings. The first was an unbeaten 82 against Australia in 2016 to steer India into the semifinals. The second, and more famous, was a miraculous 82 not out from 53 balls against Pakistan at the MCG in 2022, turning a near-certain defeat at 31/4 into a last-ball victory. The semifinal clash between India and England is a rematch of the 2022 semifinal, where England famously defeated India by 10 wickets in Adelaide. India is seeking to avenge that loss and reach their first T20 World Cup final since their heartbreaking loss in the 2024 final. South Africa enters the semifinals as the only undefeated team in the tournament, setting up a clash with New Zealand. The Proteas are looking to overcome their reputation for faltering in knockout stages and go one step further than their runner-up finish in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Pakistan's journey ended in a dramatic Super 8s match against Sri Lanka. Despite winning the nail-biter by just five runs after scoring 212, they were knocked out of the tournament. New Zealand advanced to the semifinals instead, courtesy of a superior net run rate.
