Mumbai erupted in joy as India clinched a thrilling 7-run victory over England in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium. This hard-fought win propelled Team India into the final, where they will face New Zealand on March 8 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav opened up about the intense pressure of the match. ‘I was extremely nervous,’ he admitted post-match. ‘If anyone had checked my heart rate, they would have seen just how rattled I was.’ Playing for a title in India naturally brings immense pressure and anxiety, but the team was also buzzing with excitement.
India set a formidable total of 253 for 7 after batting first. England mounted a valiant chase, finishing at 246 for 7, falling agonizingly short. The visitors pushed India to the brink with bold strokeplay till the last ball.
Suryakumar praised his bowlers for turning the tide. ‘England stayed in the contest throughout and gave us a real scare in the run-chase,’ he said. ‘But the way Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and the rest brought it back was unbelievable. That was some special bowling.’
He also credited fielding coach T Dilip for strategic inputs. ‘When we saw Adil Rashid bowling from one end, we knew Shivam Dubey was the perfect matchup against him,’ Suryakumar noted.
Reaching the final feels surreal for the skipper. ‘It’s an incredible feeling heading to Ahmedabad for the final. This is huge for the team.’ Fans are now gearing up for what promises to be another epic clash as India hunts for glory.