THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

AHMEDABAD, MARCH 8, 2026

India scripted a new chapter in cricketing history by successfully defending the Men’s T20 World Cup title with a commanding 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. With the emphatic triumph, India became the first team to defend the T20 World Cup crown and the first nation to win the tournament three times.

Backed by a stunning all-round performance, India dominated the summit clash in front of a roaring crowd of 86,824. Explosive batting from Sanju Samson and a devastating bowling spell by Jasprit Bumrah ensured a memorable night as India piled up a massive 255/5 — the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final — before bowling New Zealand out for 159 in 19 overs. Tim Seifert’s fighting 52 was the lone bright spot for the visitors.

India’s innings got off to a flying start with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma unleashing an aggressive assault on the New Zealand bowlers. The duo stitched together a blistering 98-run opening partnership that set the tone for the innings. Abhishek was in sensational touch, smashing 52 off just 21 balls with fearless stroke play.

Samson then carried the momentum forward with a breathtaking knock of 89 off 46 deliveries, anchoring the innings while maintaining a relentless scoring rate. Ishan Kishan added further impetus in the middle overs with a quickfire 54 off 25 balls, keeping the scoreboard ticking at a daunting pace.

New Zealand briefly found hope when James Neesham produced a dramatic over, claiming three wickets in quick succession to dismiss Samson, Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav. However, Shivam Dube’s late fireworks — an unbeaten 26 off just eight balls — powered India past the 250 mark and left the opposition with a daunting chase of 256.

Defending the mammoth total, India’s bowlers struck early and decisively. Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah removed key wickets inside the powerplay to leave New Zealand reeling at 52/3. Though Tim Seifert launched a counterattack and raced to a 23-ball fifty, he lacked support as wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.

Axar delivered a disciplined spell to finish with impressive figures of 3/27, while Bumrah once again proved India’s trump card with a sensational 4/15. The pace spearhead also wrapped up the innings with three wickets late in the chase as New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs.

The landmark victory also helped India break two long-standing jinxes. It marked India’s first win over New Zealand in a T20 World Cup and their first ICC white-ball triumph in Ahmedabad after heartbreaks in the 2023 ODI World Cup final and earlier in the same tournament.

With the triumph, captain Suryakumar Yadav became the fourth Indian skipper to lead the country to a men’s World Cup title, further cementing India’s dominance in the shortest format under head coach Gautam Gambhir. The historic victory sparked celebrations across the packed stadium as India reaffirmed its supremacy in global T20 cricket.