India became only the second team to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title and secured the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 trophy with a commanding 96‑run victory over New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
After New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner elected to field first, India produced a batting masterclass, scoring a record 255/5 in 20 overs — the highest total in a men’s T20 World Cup final.
Sanju Samson led the charge with 89 off 46 balls, smashing five fours and eight sixes and anchoring India’s innings alongside energetic support from his partners.
Abhishek Sharma scored 52 off 21, striking at a blistering rate to boost the total during the powerplays, while Ishan Kishan contributed 54 off 25 as India consistently accelerated throughout.
A late cameo from Shivam Dube (26 not out off eight) helped push India past the 250‑run mark and put enormous pressure on the New Zealand bowling attack.
New Zealand falter in chase
Chasing a mammoth 256, New Zealand could never gain traction against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. New Zealand were restricted to 159 all out in 19 overs, falling well short of the target.
India’s bowling unit dominated from the outset. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler with 4 for 15, exerting consistent pressure in key phases and earning Player of the Match honours.
Axar Patel also delivered a strong performance, taking multiple wickets to disrupt New Zealand’s middle order and reinforce India’s control over the match.
For New Zealand, Tim Seifert (52) and Mitchell Santner (43) offered resistance, but the rest of the batting lineup struggled to build partnerships under scoreboard pressure.
Historic achievement on home soil
The victory marked India’s third Men’s T20 World Cup title and made them the first men’s team to successfully defend the championship, as well as the first team to win the T20 World Cup on home soil.
India’s strong batting performance in both the semi‑final and final, including explosive runs from Samson and others, underscored the depth and balance of their lineup.
The win also brought redemption for Indian players and fans after the heartbreak of the 2023 ODI World Cup final loss at the same venue three years earlier.
