Samson then took control during the powerplay
India defeated England by seven runs in a thrilling semi-final at the T20 World Cup.
The result sets up a final between India and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8.
It will be India’s fourth final in the tournament’s 10 editions. The team won the inaugural competition in 2007 and the 2024 edition in the USA and the West Indies.
India finished runners-up to Sri Lanka in the 2014 final.
The semi-final produced one of the tournament’s most explosive contests. India posted a formidable 253/7 before England responded with 246/7 in their 20 overs.
The total of 253/7 is the highest score by a team in a T20 World Cup knockout match.
Sanju Samson led India’s innings with a commanding 89 from 42 balls. His knock included eight fours and seven sixes.
The innings equalled the highest score by an Indian batter in a T20 World Cup knockout match. It matched Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 89 against the West Indies in the 2016 semi-final.
After England chose to bowl, India began aggressively. Abhishek Sharma struck two early boundaries before being dismissed for nine.
Samson then took control during the powerplay and survived a scare when Harry Brook dropped the ball.
The missed chance proved costly as Samson accelerated quickly, reaching his half-century from just 26 balls while guiding India to 67/1 in the first six overs.
Ishan Kishan supported the momentum with a rapid 39 from 18 deliveries. He shared a 97-run partnership with Samson for the second wicket before being caught off Adil Rashid.
Samson continued dominating the England attack before Will Jacks dismissed him in the 14th over. India were 160/3 at the time.
Shivam Dube maintained the scoring rate with 43 from 25 balls. Suryakumar Yadav added 11 from six balls before being stumped off Rashid.
Late contributions pushed India beyond the 250 mark. Hardik Pandya scored 27 from 12 balls while Tilak Varma struck 21 from just seven deliveries.
England began their chase quickly but lost wickets at regular intervals.
Phil Salt was dismissed in the second over when Hardik Pandya struck with his first delivery.
Another setback arrived in the fifth over. Harry Brook mistimed a slower ball from Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel ran back from point to complete the catch.
Jos Buttler attempted to counterattack and made 25. However, Varun Chakravarthy removed him to leave England at 64/3 inside the powerplay.
Tom Banton briefly revived the chase with 17 from five balls. Axar Patel ended his innings after Banton attempted a slog-sweep.
Amid the wickets, Jacob Bethell kept England’s hopes alive with a powerful innings.
The left-hander struck 105 from 48 balls. His aggressive approach included a rapid half-century from just 19 deliveries.
Bethell also formed a key partnership with Will Jacks. The pair added 77 runs for the fifth wicket from only 39 balls.
Jacks contributed 35 from 20 balls before falling in the 14th over. He sliced a wide full toss towards the boundary.
Axar Patel produced a relay effort on the rope with Shivam Dube to complete the catch.
England entered the final five overs still within reach of victory. The side required 69 runs with five wickets remaining.
Jasprit Bumrah delivered a crucial spell in the closing stages. His final two overs conceded just 14 runs.
That control allowed Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube to defend 39 runs in the final two overs.
Despite Bethell’s century and England’s late charge, India held their nerve to secure a seven-run victory.
India will now be looking to defend their crown when they take on New Zealand, who defeated South Africa by nine wickets.
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