New Delhi: Clinical India produced an all-round brilliant show to hammer New Zealand by 96 runs in the final match on way to record-breaking third T20 World Cup title. India became the first team in the history of the marquee competition to win three titles and also the first team to defend the T20 World Cup crown and the first side to win it on home soil.
Put into bat first, batters led by Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Shivam Dube propelled India to 255/5 in the stipulated 20 overs – the highest score posted in a T20 World Cup final game and also India’s highest score in this edition of the marquee event, surpassing 253 scored against England in the semifinal clash.
🚨 HISTORY CREATED AT THE NARENDRA MODI STADIUM IN AHMEDABAD. 🚨
– India becomes the first team to win the T20 World Cup 3 times.
– India becomes the first team to successfully defend their T20 World Cup.
– India becomes the first team to win the T20 Cup at home. 🇮🇳🏆 pic.twitter.com/K2QYGbFZYY
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 8, 2026
IND bundle out NZ with one over to spare
Chasing a record 256 runs, Indian bowlers put pressure in the New Zealand batters right from the start to bundle them out for 159 in 19 overs. Jasprit Bumrah led the carnage with 4 wickets while Axar Patel claimed three wickets to weaken the Kiwi side.
Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakarvarthy also claimed a wicket apiece to contribute in the game. New Zealand tried their best through Tim Seifert (52) and skipper Mitchell Santner (43) but failed to complete the score in an improbable chase in the finals.
More to follow..