India on Sunday became the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title, and the first to lift it three times, after beating New Zealand by 96 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Sanju Samson dominated New Zealand alongside Abhishek Sharma, who saved his best for the last in India's 255 for five against New Zealand in the final. Ishan Kishan (54 off 25 balls) joined them, forming a top three that left New Zealand stunned. A 105-run partnership off 48 balls pushed India past 200 before Jimmy Neesham (3/46 in four overs) removed Samson, Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav (0) in the 16th over. On Nov 19, 2023, Rohit Sharma’s men had lost to Australia in the ODI World Cup final at the same venue.

Source: The Telegraph March 08, 2026 17:18 UTC