Brilliant India crush New Zealand in final - Co-hosts win Twenty20 World Cup for record third time

AHMEDABAD, India:

India won the T20 World Cup for a record third time with a crushing 96-run victory over New Zealand on Sunday to the delight of more than 86,000 cricket fans at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium.

India scored an imposing 255-5 in the final after losing the toss and batting first. Opener Sanju Samson hit a brilliant 46-ball 89 with eight sixes, for his third straight half-century.

New Zealand never posed a genuine threat in their chase and were all out for 159 in 19 overs. India pacer Jasprit Bumrah took 4-15 in four overs and Axar Patel picked up 3-27 in three overs. New Zealand opener Tim Seifert scored a 26-ball 52.

India won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and 2024.

New Zealand were aiming for their first T20 World Cup triumph. They also finished as runners-up in the 2021 final, losing to Australia in Dubai.

SAMSON, SHARMA POWER

Sharma roared into form as he hit three sixes and four boundaries on his way to 50 off only 18 balls. Samson took to the skies as well, hitting eight sixes in all, as the duo put on 50 off only 24 deliveries.

India's 92-0 was the highest power play score in any T20 World Cup match.

It proved a superb base for building a formidable total and India never really relinquished control of the game. Sharma was out caught in the eighth over, but Kishan and Samson added another 105 off 48 balls for the second wicket.

Samson made 50 off 33 - after 97 not out and 89 against West Indies and England, respectively - while Kishan also powered to a third half-century in the tournament, coming off 23 balls.

Samson's 89 was the highest individual score in a men's T20 World Cup finals and he was named player of the tournament for 232 runs in four matches at average 77.33.

"It feels like a dream actually. I am very happy and grateful, out of emotions and words," Samson said.

India were past 200 in the 15th over, when they briefly stumbled. Jimmy Neesham picked up three wickets in the 16th over - Samson and Kishan were caught at long on, and then Suryakumar Yadav was out caught at fine leg for a duck.

Shivam Dube restored the momentum - his cameo of 26 not out off eight balls with two sixes helped India cross 250 yet again.

BUMRAH, AXAR STRANGLEHOLD

Finn Allen - carrying a wrist injury - was out caught off Patel for just nine, while Kishan took a spectacular catch to send back Rachin Ravindra (1) off Bumrah.

Patel bowled Glenn Phillips (5) and Hardik Pandya cleaned up Mark Chapman (3) as New Zealand were down to 70-4 in 7.4 overs.

Seifert's innings included five sixes, and may have briefly given some hope to his side. But he was Varun Chakravarthy's sole wicket of the day, with Kishan claiming another fine catch.

Kishan was in action again as Patel sent back Daryl Mitchell (17) for his third wicket, while Bumrah returned to polish off the lower order.

He was on a hat-trick in the 16th over and took his tally to 40 wickets in T20 World Cups - the most for a pacer in tournament history.

Bumrah was named Player of the Match.

"It feels extremely special because I have played one final at my home venue but couldn't win that one, but this one feels really special," Bumrah said. "I was really motivated and really clear about what I wanted to do. Today, all executions went as per our plans.".

It was a memorable night for fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where India lost to Australia in the one-day Cricket World Cup final in 2023.

MORE RECORDS

India became the first country to successfully defend their title and also the first team to claim the trophy on home soil. India and Sri Lanka co-hosted this 2026 edition.

Yadav joined the likes of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as Indian captains to lift the T20 World Cup, on another big day for Indian cricket.

- AP