India scripted history at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, becoming the first team ever to successfully defend the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title and the first to win the tournament three times. Suryakumar Yadav’s side demolished New Zealand by 96 runs in a one-sided final, posting 255 for five before bowling out the Kiwis for 159. India had previously won the title at the inaugural edition in 2007 and at the 2024 tournament in the United States and West Indies.
The victory was especially sweet given that the Narendra Modi Stadium was the same venue where Rohit Sharma’s India had suffered a heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
Abhishek, Samson and Kishan Demolish New Zealand
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that quickly came back to haunt him. Abhishek Sharma came out swinging and capitalised ruthlessly on Santner’s wayward bowling, smashing 52 off just 21 balls to give India a blistering start. He and Sanju Samson put on 98 runs in just 43 balls for the opening wicket before Rachin Ravindra removed Abhishek.
Samson then combined with Ishan Kishan for a commanding 105-run second wicket partnership off 48 balls that buried New Zealand’s hopes of keeping India to a manageable total. Samson finished with a magnificent 89 off 46 balls, an innings packed with eight sixes hit to all corners of the ground. Kishan contributed 54 off 25 balls with four sixes and four boundaries.
Samson’s 89 is now the highest individual score ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final, surpassing the previous record of 85 held jointly by Marlon Samuels in 2016 and Kane Williamson in 2021. The 105-run partnership between Samson and Kishan was also the second century stand in a T20 World Cup final, behind only the 111-run opening stand between Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen for England against Australia in 2010.
Neesham Strikes Three Times But India Cross 250
New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham provided the only resistance with the ball, dismissing Samson, Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav for a duck in the 16th over to slow India briefly. Neesham finished as New Zealand’s best bowler with three for 46. However, Hardik Pandya chipped in with 18 and Shivam Dube blazed 26 in a brisk cameo to carry India past the 250 mark.
India posted 255 for five, the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final and their fourth score of 250 or more in 2026, the most by any team in a single calendar year.
India’s Bowlers Complete the Rout
Chasing 256, New Zealand never looked like they were in the contest for long. Axar Patel struck early, removing Finn Allen for 9 and then dismissing Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell in quick succession. Jasprit Bumrah was devastating, sending back Rachin Ravindra for 1 and then producing a stunning burst in the death overs that saw him dismiss Jimmy Neesham and Matt Henry in back to back deliveries before cleaning up Mitchell Santner for his fourth wicket of the innings.
Tim Seifert kept the scoreboard ticking with a fighting 52 off 26 balls but received little support from the rest of the batting order. Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy also picked up wickets to leave New Zealand five down at the halfway point of their innings. They were eventually bowled out for 159, handing India a 96-run victory and the championship.
A Record-Breaking Tournament for India
India’s triumph also continued a remarkable record with the bat in this tournament. They became only the second team in history to register three totals of 250 or more in a single T20 tournament, joining Sunrisers Hyderabad from the 2024 IPL.
The victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket ground, will be remembered as one of the finest moments in Indian cricket history.
