Mumbai, March 6 – A day after narrowly defeating England by seven runs in a thrilling semi-final of the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav-led India departed from Mumbai to Ahmedabad for the title clash against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium, scheduled for Sunday.
The excitement surrounding the Indian team was palpable from the moment the team bus left their hotel in Mumbai, heading to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport for their flight to Ahmedabad.
Fans gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the Indian team and erupted in cheers and chants upon spotting the 15-member squad, including wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and fast-bowling star Jasprit Bumrah.
The airport was filled with massive roars and a festive atmosphere, as fans eagerly took out their mobile phones to record photos and videos of the team members and the support staff.
Top-ranked India are aiming to win their third Men's T20 World Cup title, and will face a formidable Mitchell Santner-led New Zealand in a highly-anticipated title clash of the 20-team competition. Suryakumar Yadav & Co. are aiming to become the first to win back-to-back Men's T20 World Cups and the first team to lift the trophy on home soil.
New Zealand, on the other hand, come into the competition fresh off Finn Allen's record 33-ball century, which led them to a nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the semi-final in Kolkata, and are aiming to capture their first Men's T20 World Cup title.
In the semi-final held at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, India defeated England by seven runs in a tense encounter, despite Jacob Bethell's blistering 105. Sanju Samson's sparkling 89 propelled India to 253/7, before restricting England to 246/7 in front of a crowd of 35,000 at the iconic venue.
India are aiming for several firsts as they take on New Zealand in Ahmedabad. They are aiming to become the first host team to win the T20 World Cup, the first team to defend the title, and the first to win three T20 World Cup titles.
