Bumrah’s calm amid the chaos
In a night when 500 runs were piled up across 40 overs, Jasprit Bumrah’s spell quietly tilted the game in India’s favour.
He finished with 1 for 33 from four overs. In a match where the scoring rate surged well past 12 an over, Bumrah conceded only 8.25.
Operating in overs five, 11, 16 and 18 of England’s chase, he mixed searing yorkers with cleverly disguised slower balls and repeatedly broke the rhythm of a rampant batting line-up.
Axar Patel’s fielding brilliance
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI
Axar Patel’s catching was decisive in ensuring India stayed in the ascendancy against England in the T20 World Cup semifinal.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI
Axar Patel may not have dominated with bat or ball, but his fielding produced two moments that significantly swung the contest.
First came the dismissal of England captain Harry Brook. Charging in from extra cover, Axar covered ground rapidly and launched himself forward to complete a superb catch that removed Brook for seven.
His second intervention was even more dramatic. With England surging through a 77-run partnership off just 39 balls, Axar sprinted across from deep mid-wicket, grabbed the ball on the move and, while still airborne, flicked it back inside the boundary to Shivam Dube to complete a relay catch that dismissed Will Jacks.
Dube’s counterattack when India needed it
Shivam Dube was promoted ahead of Suryakumar Yadav to neutralise England’s spin options.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI
Shivam Dube was promoted ahead of Suryakumar Yadav to neutralise England’s spin options.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI
Sanju Samson’s departure for 89 briefly threatened to stall India’s surge, but Shivam Dube ensured the innings never lost momentum.
Promoted specifically to disrupt England’s spin options, Dube delivered exactly what India had hoped for. His 43 from 25 balls was purposeful, particularly against Adil Rashid, whom he struck for three towering sixes.
The assault also forced England to abandon its plans with Liam Dawson, who was restricted to just a single over.
Dube’s charge allowed the finishing hitters to arrive with freedom. Tilak Varma smashed 21 from seven balls, before Hardik Pandya added two more off Will Jacks in the 20th in a rapid 27 from 12.
Pandya then contributed with the ball as well, delivering a crucial 19th over that left England needing 30 from the final six balls.
Published on Mar 06, 2026
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