Hardik Pandya and Jacob Bethell (Source:X)
The second semi-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 turned into a nail-biting thriller as India defeated England by just seven runs at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5.
While the match had several dramatic moments, one particular incident involving Hardik Pandya and England’s young star Jacob Bethell quickly went viral on social media.
Jacob Bethell's stunning century
Batting first, India posted a massive total of 253/7 on the board. The innings was anchored by a superb knock from Sanju Samson, who scored a brilliant 89 runs. Ishan Kishan also made a valuable 39 runs, while a quick cameo from Hardik Pandya helped India add crucial runs in the death overs.
However, in the chase, England's Jacob Bethell produced one of the most remarkable innings of the tournament, smashing 105 runs from just 48 balls. His fearless hitting kept England firmly in the hunt despite the massive target.
At one stage, the chase looked very much achievable for England. With only 39 runs needed from the final two overs and Jacob Bethell still at the crease, the pressure was firmly on India's bowlers.
The moment Jacob Bethell silenced Hardik Pandya
One of the most talked-about moments came earlier in the innings during the sixth over when Hardik was bowling to Jacob Bethell.
Before delivering the third ball of the sixth over, Hardik gestured to the crowd, asking them to clap and cheer loudly to build the atmosphere.
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The crowd responded instantly, raising the noise level, but the moment backfired dramatically.
Hardik Pandya delivered a length ball angled towards the middle stump. Jacob Bethell, who seemed ready for the challenge, stood firmly at the crease and unleashed a powerful shot. He smashed the ball over the forward square-leg boundary for a massive six.
The emphatic hit left the crowd stunned and quickly went viral, shattering Hardik's aura.
Watch the video here:
Hardik Pandya’s redemption as India seal dramatic win
Hardik Pandya eventually played a key role in turning the match back in India’s favour. The crucial breakthrough came in the penultimate over, bowled by Shivam Dube. On the first ball of the over, Jacob Bethell attempted to steal a risky second run.
Hardik reacted quickly in the field and combined with wicketkeeper Sanju Samson to run the English batter out.
Hardik also bowled a superb 19th over, dismissing Sam Curran and conceding just nine runs. Alongside him, Jasprit Bumrah kept his composure under pressure to help India close out the game.
Earlier in the innings, Axar Patel also made a big impact in the field with two sensational catches, including the dismissal of Harry Brook and a relay catch that removed Will Jacks.
With this win, India became the first defending champions to reach the final of the T20 World Cup.
Hardik's performance in T20 World Cup 2026 so far
Looking at Hardik Pandya’s stats in the ongoing global tournament, he has played 8 innings and scored 199 runs at an average of 28.43 and a strike rate of 163.11. With the ball, he has bagged 8 wickets in 8 innings at an economy rate of 8.79.
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