India advanced to the T20 World Cup 2026 final after a thrilling win over England at Wankhede Stadium. Jasprit Bumrah’s match-defining spell and Axar Patel’s superb catches proved crucial, while Sanju Samson’s aggressive start also earned praise from experts including Irfan Pathan
Axar Patel relays the catch to Shivam Dube for the wicket of England's Will Jacks. (Pic/PTI)
India stormed into the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 after a thrilling victory over England in a high-scoring encounter. Following the memorable victory at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Indian vice-captain Axar Patel and experts reflected on the team’s standout performances, including crucial contributions from Sanju Samson and a match-defining spell by Jasprit Bumrah.
Speaking in a post-match show, former India cricketer Irfan Pathan praised India’s performance and highlighted the significance of Bumrah’s bowling in a match dominated by batters.
“This game will be remembered for a very long time for many reasons. India reaching the final again as defending champions is special, but the quality of cricket we witnessed was outstanding,” Pathan said. The former Indian cricketer also praised England’s star of the night, Jacob Bethell, calling him a future superstar of England cricket.
Irfan Pathan, praising Indian batting domination, also credited Samson’s aggressive start and a key tactical move involving Shivam Dube, backed by India head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, for shifting the momentum in India’s favour.
While praising Axar Patel’s brilliance on the field and hailing Bumrah’s class, Irfan Pathan said, “Axar Patel’s two catches were outstanding, but the real difference in the game was the magical, unbelievable Jasprit Bumrah. In a game where nearly 500 runs were scored, he finished with an economy of 8.25. Batters were giving him respect and even missing full tosses because of the pressure he created.”
Jonathan Trott praises Bumrah's execution
It was not just Indian cricketers praising the masterclass of Bumrah. Former England cricketer Jonathan Trott also lauded his ability to execute yorkers with precision under pressure.
“With the greatest respect, you know what Jasprit Bumrah is going to bowl—he runs in and delivers yorkers. For any youngster wanting to take up fast bowling, learn how to bowl straight yorkers. If you can run in and hit the batter on the toes consistently, that is the most valuable skill,” Trott said.
Axar Patel speaks about his two brilliant catches
Reflecting on his own fielding effort, Axar Patel spoke about the two crucial catches he took during England’s chase.
“It was a very tough wicket for the bowlers, so as a fielder, taking catches or saving runs becomes very important. The first one is one of my favourite catches because I was running backwards, which is always difficult. At the last moment, I paused briefly before completing the catch, and that helped me judge the ball better,” Axar said.
Axar further added that the second catch came at a critical stage when England were building a partnership, and effective communication with Shivam Dube helped complete the dismissal.
India’s T20 vice-captain also praised Sanju Samson for providing a strong start at the top of the order.
He added, “Sanju has played two very good innings back-to-back. Everyone has skill, but mental toughness is extremely important in matches like this. His confidence has grown, and the start he provided on this wicket was exactly what the team needed.”
Talking about Bumrah’s decisive spell at the death, Axar emphasised the bowler’s ability to thrive in pressure situations.
“We knew the last two overs from Jasprit Bumrah would be crucial. On this wicket, the margin for error was very small. The way he delivered those yorkers under pressure shows why he is called the ‘Yorker King’. He knows exactly how to take the team out of difficult situations,” Axar said.
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