Online Reporter
HISTORY will record that the 2026 ICC T20 champions India posted 255 against New Zealand in the final, just one run less than they posted against Zimbabwe in a Super 8 group match of the same tournament.
It will also be recorded that while Zimbabwe eventually lost by 72 runs, finalists New Zealand suffered a 96-run defeat.
For the record, it should be highlighted that India had it easier in semi-final and final than the Super 8 group stage matches — against West Indies, South Africa and Zimbabwe — where at one stage they were facing elimination.
Yesterday India thrashed New Zealand by 96 runs to become the first team to retain the T20 World Cup and the first to win it for a third time on a night of wild celebration at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Sanju Samson (89) led an extraordinary top-order assault in which the top three batsmen all scored half centuries as India piled up a record total of 255-5 before dismissing New Zealand for a meagre 159 in reply as the hosts and strong tournament favourites fulfilled all the expectations of their millions of sup-porters.
Samson matched the 89 he scored against England in the semifinal with his runs coming from just 46 balls and containing five fours and eight sixes but fellow opener Abhishek Sharma (52 from 21 balls) and Ishan Kishan (54 from 25) scored even more quickly as the defending champions charged to 191-1 after 14 overs, already the highest score in a T20 World Cup final.
Only Tim Seifert (52 from 26 balls) reached double figures among the Black Caps’ top five batsmen as the unrelenting pressure mounted.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel (3-0-27-3) removed the dangerous Finn Allen (9) and Glenn Phillips (5) after Jasprit Bumrah’s infamous slower ball had coaxed Rachin Ravindra (1) into a chip to cover.
Bumrah was as imperious as always with 4-0-15-3 as he dismantled the tail. Daryl Mitchell (17) hit two of his first four balls for six but by then the required rate was already close to 17 runs per over and, at 72-5, the final 10 overs were little more than a victory parade despite some defiant six-hitting from captain Mitch Santner in his 43 from 35 balls.
India became the first team to retain the title and the first to win three T20 World Cups.— Zimpapers Sports Hub/ Supersport
