'Incredible scenes' as India crush New Zealand to win Twenty20 World Cup final
India has won the T20 World Cup for a record third time with a crushing 96-run victory over New Zealand.
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, in his third straight half century. Rivals New Zealand never posed a genuine threat in its chase and was all out for 159 in 19 overs.
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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.
Suryakumar Yadav lifts the trophy after victory in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. ICC via Getty Images
India has previously won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and 2024.
New Zealand was aiming for its first T20 World Cup triumph and has been in the loser's positions before. It finished runner-up in the 2021 final, losing to Australia in Dubai.
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 0-92 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.
Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj of India celebrate following the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. ICC via Getty Images
Samson made 50 off 33 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 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.
Finn Allen was carrying a wrist injury and was out caught off Patel for just nine, while Kishan took a spectacular catch to send back Rachin Ravindra off Bumrah.
Patel bowled Glenn Phillips and Hardik Pandya cleaned up Mark Chapman as New Zealand was down to 4-70 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.
People celebrate after India won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand. Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Kishan was in action again as Patel sent back Daryl Mitchell for his third, 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 execution 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.
India became the first country to successfully defend its 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.
