Pokhara, 9 March| In a spectacular display of cricketing dominance, India successfully defended their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. This historic victory marks India’s third T20 World Cup crown, having previously won in 2007 and 2024. By clinching the title back-to-back, India has become the first nation in history to defend their T20 crown and the first to triumph on home soil. For New Zealand, the final proved to be another heartbreaking near-miss, continuing their wait for a maiden T20 World Cup title after falling short against Australia in the 2021 final.
Invited to bat first after losing the toss, India’s batting lineup dismantled the New Zealand attack, posting a staggering 255/5 in their 20 overs—the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final. Sanju Samson, who was named the Player of the Tournament, led the onslaught with a masterful 89 off 46 deliveries, decorated with eight sixes and five fours. Explosive half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (52 off 21) and Ishan Kishan (54 off 25) set a blistering pace, while Shivam Dube’s quick-fire 26 off 8 balls provided the perfect finish. New Zealand’s James Neesham was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets, but he could not stem the flow of runs as the Indian batters turned the stadium into a festival of boundaries.
Chasing a colossal target of 256, New Zealand never found their footing. The Black Caps were bundled out for 159 in 19 overs under the relentless pressure of India’s bowling attack. While opener Tim Seifert showed resilience with 52 runs and captain Mitchell Santner contributed 43, the rest of the lineup crumbled. Jasprit Bumrah was instrumental in the victory, delivering a world-class spell of 4 for 15, which earned him the Player of the Match award. Axar Patel provided vital support with 3 wickets, ensuring that the result was never in doubt. The win in Ahmedabad, witnessed by over 86,000 passionate fans, solidifies India’s position as the undisputed powerhouse in modern T20 cricket, marking a golden chapter for the Men in Blue as they celebrate a monumental achievement on home soil.
