IND VS NZ final LIVE: India beat New Zealand to win second T20 World Cup title

AHMEDABAD: India defeated New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final, as Mitchell’s team was completely crushed in 19 overs. India’s bowlers put the opposition under immense pressure, dominating the match to defend their 256-run record score at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

India’s bowling line went even more terrific, compared to the total they defended in the ICC World Cup semi-final against England. The team’s bowling line massively defended the total in the IND VS NZ 2026 World Cup final tonight.

During their innings, the New Zealand team lost key wickets early, managing only 53 runs in the first seven overs, which put them under immense pressure. The early setbacks included top-order batters Finn Allen (9 off 7) and Glenn Phillips (5 off 5), who were dismissed by Axar Patel, while Rachin Ravindra (1 off 2) was removed by Jasprit Bumrah.

India’s fast bowler Bumrah remained highly focused while targeting the opposition. He also dismissed skipper Mitchell Santner (43 off 35 — the side’s second-highest scorer), James Neesham (8 off 7), and Matt Henry (for a duck). These crucial breakthroughs shattered New Zealand’s confidence, leading to further collapses in the batting order.

Top-order batter Tim Seifert tried his best to stabilise the innings and chase India’s total under immense pressure. He scored the team’s highest total of 53 off 26 balls before being dismissed by Varun Chakaravarthy. With the batting lineup losing confidence, the match eventually slipped away from New Zealand, allowing the 2024–25 T20 World Cup champions to secure another comfortable victory.

India’s star batter Sanju Samson was awarded the Player of the Match for the second time in the tournament. His second award came after a brilliant knock of 89 off 42 balls in the semi-final clash against England on March 5. He also broke the record for the most sixes in this edition, smashing a total of 24 sixes in just five matches. Samson capped off the tournament with an 89-run innings in the final, which included eight maximums.

Earlier, India posted 256-run highest target of the ongoing T20 World Cup after Sanju Samson scored 89 against New Zealand tonight here. India’s 255-run total in the IND VS NZ WC final leaves Men in Blue just five runs behind Sri Lanka’s 260-run total posted in the 2007 T20 World Cup against Kenya.

Tilak Varma’s eight off six and Shivam Dube’s 26 off 8 (featured with three fours and two sixes) increased the team’s total up to 247. Thanks to the eight runs which the NZ bowlers gave in extras, taking the total to 255 for five.

Team’s Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who came in after Ishan (54 off 25), was crushed for a duck by James Neesham, who has also dismissed Pandya (18) and Samson (89).

Sanju Samson (89 off 46 balls) was crushed on the very first ball of the 16th over, played by James Neesham. Samson’s thrilling 89 included 5 boundaries and 8 sixes, guiding the team’s total to 203. He was followed by the team’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Ishan Kishan also registered his 50 off 25 balls (studded with 4 boundaries and 4 hits) in the 17th over of the innings.

Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan increased their total to 191 after playing 14 overs. After 14 overs, Samson added 88 off 44 balls (studded with 5 fours and 8 sixes), and Kisha was standing with 43 off 19 balls. Both batters added 20 runs in the 14th over of their innings.

India registered their team’s first century in 7.2 overs; however, Ishan Kishan, who stepped in after Abhishek Sharma was dismissed, and Sanju Samson, the side’s opener, managed only 27 off 28 balls.

Abheshak Sharam was dismissed just after scoring his 52 off 21 (featuring with 6 fours and three sixes) as spinner Rachin Ravindra claimed him down after the India vs New Zealand powerplay was over.

Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson began their innings in massive manners, as both the openers increased their total up to 92 in the first six overs of their IND VS NZ final innings.

NZ’s captain earlier decided to field first as he aimed at restricting the co-hosts to a limited total. However, the strategy turned after six overs of playing the innings. Abhishek smashed the innings’ first fifty off 19 balls while Samson scored 32 off 18 balls during the first six overs of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final.

The Mitchell-led side still hope to restrict India’s batting line-up and put themselves in a strong position to chase the target in tonight’s high-stakes IND vs NZ clash.

India previously lifted the trophy in 2007, under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, when they defeated the Pakistan national cricket team in the inaugural final. Their second title came in 2024, when they beat the South Africa national cricket team to reclaim the crown after a long wait.

New Zealand, meanwhile, are chasing their first-ever T20 World Cup title. The Black Caps previously reached the final in 2021, finishing as runners-up after losing to the Australia national cricket team.

Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India entered the final after defeating the England national cricket team in the semifinal, while New Zealand secured their spot by overcoming South Africa in the other semifinal.

If India defeat New Zealand in the 2026 final, they will become the first team in history to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup three times.

With history on the line for India and a maiden title within reach for New Zealand, the final promises to be a high-stakes contest between two of the most consistent teams in world cricket.

Playing XIs

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (w), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah.

New Zealand: Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson and Jacob Duffy