Power meets precision: That’s Team India for you in the T20 World Cup 2026. In semi-final 2 against England at Wankhede, India unleashed 19 sixes while compiling 253 for 7, equaling the record jointly held by West Indies and Netherlands for the highest in an innings.
Captaincy from the crease shone through Sanju Samson’s masterclass – 89 runs from 42 deliveries, studded with 7 sixes and 8 fours. Starting from 20 for 1 after Ishan Kishan’s 39 (18 balls), Samson built a 97-run stand before Dube’s 43 pushed the score higher.
Samson’s 16 sixes this tournament make him India’s all-time leader in a single edition, surpassing Rohit (2024), Dube (2026), Kishan, and Pandya (14 each). Yuvraj’s 12 from 2007, complete with his over of sixes, remains folklore.
Contextualizing the record: Netherlands pioneered 19 vs Ireland in 2014; West Indies matched it vs Zimbabwe in Mumbai 2026. India’s prior 17 vs Zimbabwe this WC, and Australia’s 16 vs India (2010), highlight the evolution of T20 aggression.
England grabbed 7 wickets – Jacks and Rashid (2 each), Archer (1) – but couldn’t stem the tide. With Pandya (27) and Varma (21) finishing strong, India has set a 254-run fortress. The chase will test England’s mettle in this high-stakes showdown.