India crushed England by 7 runs in a pulsating T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Sanju Samson’s brilliant 89 powered India to a record-breaking 253/7. Bollywood was watching — and it could not stay silent. From Raha Kapoor’s tiny claps in the stands to Preity Zinta cheering through illness, this was cinema and cricket colliding at full force.
Bollywood Stars Pack Wankhede for a Historic Night
Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Triptii Dimri, and Anil Kapoor were all present at the Wankhede Stadium to witness the semi-final live. The night had an unmistakably electric atmosphere, and the celebrity section was no exception.
Raha Kapoor, Ranbir and Alia’s daughter, drew instant attention as videos of the three enjoying the match together spread rapidly across X. Meanwhile, Varun Dhawan and Anil Kapoor were spotted leaping from their seats, waving the tricolour as India sealed the win.
Anil Kapoor and Triptii Dimri React From the Stands
Anil Kapoor did not wait to get home before sharing his joy. He posted on Instagram Stories: “Finale unlocked! Let’s go Team India.” It was short, punchy, and summed up the entire Wankhede crowd’s energy in five words.
Triptii Dimri, meanwhile, kept it equally raw. “Goosebumps watching this team,” she wrote. That one line, honest and unpolished, said more than a lengthy caption ever could.
Akshay, Ajay, and Preity Lead the Social Media Surge
The reactions online were just as passionate as those inside the stadium. Akshay Kumar took to X and wrote: “That’s how you march towards the finals. What a win, Team India!” Ajay Devgn called it an absolute champs performance and confirmed what everyone already felt — the final is the only destination left.
However, it was Preity Zinta who delivered the most heartfelt reaction. The Punjab Kings co-owner praised Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Akshar Patel by name. She also gave a generous shoutout to England’s Jacob Bethel for his batting. Most importantly, she revealed she had been unwell but forgot everything watching the game. That is the kind of thing cricket — and only cricket — can do.
A Record Total and a Selfless Star
India’s 253/7 is not just a big score. It is the highest total ever posted in a T20 World Cup semi-final, a record that places this innings firmly in history. Sanju Samson’s 89 set the platform, with Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma building on it brilliantly in the back half of the innings.
Samson won the Player of the Match award. But in a moment that felt genuinely unexpected, he said Jasprit Bumrah deserved it. That quiet deflection of credit, in the middle of a historic night, was arguably the classiest moment of the entire evening.
India Head to Ahmedabad to Defend Their Crown
India now travel to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the T20 World Cup 2026 final on Sunday, March 8. They will arrive as defending champions and, after that performance against England, as firm favourites. Bollywood will be watching — and if Wankhede is anything to go by, they will not be quiet about it.
