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T20 World Cup: India beat New Zealand to retain championship
Sanju Samson’s 89, quick fifties from Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, and Jasprit Bumrah's bowling prowess led India to a historic T20 World Cup win over the Kiwis
- PUBLISHED: Sun 8 Mar 2026, 9:16 PM
The India national cricket team scripted history on Sunday by defeating the New Zealand national cricket team by 96 runs to win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The victory makes India the first team to win the T20 World Cup back-to-back, while also becoming the first side to lift the trophy three times. It was also a historic night for the hosts, as India became the first nation to win a T20 World Cup on home soil.
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As the final wicket fell, players rushed toward the boundary ropes where the substitutes and support staff were already gathered. India flags waved across the stands as more than 86,000 fans erupted in celebration, chanting national slogans in a moment that erased the painful memories of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 Final defeat against Australia at the same venue.
India’s batting dominance set the tone
India’s triumph was built on a breathtaking batting performance earlier in the evening. The defending champions piled up 255/5, the highest total ever in a T20 World Cup final, leaving New Zealand with a daunting chase of 256.
Sanju Samson, awarded Player of the Tournament, led the charge with a commanding 89 off 46 balls, continuing his outstanding run in the tournament. Paired with Samson at the top of the order, Abhishek Sharma provided a lightning start with a rapid half-century, while Ishan Kishan added further firepower with an aggressive fifty.
The trio’s combined assault underlined India’s transformation into one of the most formidable batting units in T20 cricket.
Bowlers seal emphatic win
Defending the massive total, India’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to seal the title. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Axar Patel led the attack as New Zealand were bowled out for 159 with one over remaining.
New Zealand’s chase never truly gained momentum despite a fighting half-century from Tim Seifert. Their bowlers had earlier struggled to contain India’s explosive batting lineup, and the batting unit was unable to mount a serious challenge in reply.
The defeat marks another heartbreaking chapter for New Zealand in major tournaments. It was their fifth white-ball final in the past 11 years, yet they once again finished without the trophy.
For India, however, the night belonged to a team that has dominated the T20 format over the past two years.
