In front of 86,824 spectators at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, fast bowling star Jasprit Bumrah scored 4-15 as India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs to become the first team to win the Men’s T20 World Cup three times.
Before Jasprit and Axar Patel (3-27) tore through New Zealand’s top order to secure victory, Sanju Samson’s scorching 89 off 46 balls, which included five fours and eight sixes, propelled India to 255/5, the highest total in a T20 World Cup final. Only Tim Seifert put up a valiant 52 as the visitors were bowled for 159 in 19 overs.
Samson shared a 98-run opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma (52 off 21 balls), while Ishan Kishan scored 54 off 25 deliveries. Samson was in excellent form with scores of 97 not out and 89 in his previous innings. With three wickets in an over, James Neesham momentarily halted the assault, but Shivam Dube’s undefeated 26 from eight balls helped India surpass 250.
New Zealand was reduced to 52/3 during the powerplay by India’s bowlers, ensuring that the semi-final scare against England would not recur. India’s first T20 World Cup victory over New Zealand and their first ICC white-ball victory in Ahmedabad following losses in the 2023 ODI final and previously in this tournament were both shattered by the victory.
Since taking over in July 2024, captain Suryakumar Yadav has not lost a single series, making him the fourth Indian captain to lead the team to a men’s cricket World Cup trophy. This incredible record demonstrates India’s supremacy in the shortest format. As India completed their two-peat of Men’s T20 World Cup victories, head coach Gautam Gambhir also won his second ICC title.
Arshdeep Singh found swing early in the defense of 256 to contain Finn Allen and Seifert. Tim Seifert hit Hardik Pandya for two sixes and two fours in the second over, scoring 21 runs, after Dube dropped Allen on two at mid-off.
Axar, who was inserted in the third over, had the dangerous Allen holing out to long-on as part of India’s quick and brutal response. When Rachin Ravindra chipped an off-cutter to Ishan Kishan, who made a spectacular diving grab, Bumrah was called upon in the fourth over and struck with his first delivery.
Then, in the fifth over, Axar dismissed New Zealand’s power-play at 52/3 with a superbly disguised arm ball that slipped past Glenn Phillips’ bat and pegged back leg stump. Varun Chakaravarthy was hit for two sixes by Seifert as he marched forward to reach a half-century off 23 balls.
However, India kept chipping away; Mark Chapman chopped onto his stumps off Pandya, Seifert mishandled the draw, and Kishan threw the ball into the air before regaining his balance to make a solo relay catch in the deep.
When Daryl Mitchell hit consecutive sixes off Arshdeep Singh, the crowd was momentarily silent. Singh then fielded off his own bowling and threw the ball back at the hitter, which infuriated him.
At the end of the over, Suryakumar Yadav apologized and Arshdeep shook hands after the umpire interfered. Mitchell and captain Mitchell Santner, who was dumped on 26 by Pandya, proceeded to hit boundaries in spite of the exorbitant asking rate.
However, Tilak Varma completed a solo relay catch of Jacob Duffy off Abhishek Sharma’s bowling, Axar came back to have the former hole out to deep mid-wicket off a full toss, and Bumrah cast James Neesham, Matt Henry, and Neesham with slower balls. India lived up to their pre-tournament hype and made the history they were destined to make in spectacular fashion.
Quick Scores:
India defeated New Zealand 159 in 19 overs (Tim Seifert 52, Mitchell Santner 43; Jasprit Bumrah 4-15, Axar Patel 3-27) by 96 runs in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Ishan Kishan 54, Abhishek Sharma 52; James Neesham 3-46, Rachin Ravindra 1-32).
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