Ahmedabad, March 7 An incredibly talented and consistent Indian cricket team will carry the hopes of a nation as they compete against a tenacious New Zealand in a classic David vs. Goliath final of the T20 World Cup here on Sunday.
On November 19, 2023, the expansive Narendra Modi Stadium witnessed a tearful Rohit Sharma emerge from the dressing room after Australia had defeated India in the ODI World Cup final.
The home side and the stadium, with 93,000 people, have carried the burden since then, even though the T20 team somewhat redeemed itself by winning the 2024 World title under Rohit.
The shortest format team will now aim to become the first to defend the crown under Suryakumar Yadav and also the first to win the coveted trophy three times.
Suryakumar, a street-smart cricketer who embodies the famous Mumbai spirit, will not only want to create his own legacy as captain but also wants to put an end to the November 19, 2023, agony.
Suryakumar and his teammates can draw inspiration from what happened exactly 364 days back on March 9, 2025. It was the day India beat an almost similar New Zealand side in the ICC Champions Trophy, albeit in the 50-over format.
Suryakumar was not a part of that side, but he can still take heart from that one-sided win in Dubai.
To win a final, one needs pluck and also a bit of luck. It doesn't have to be a perfect game, but the right things need to happen at the right time.
India literally won their semi-final when Harry Brook dropped Sanju Samson. The 'Men in Blue' won't mind such errors from the opposition on Sunday.
It would be unfair to say that from draws to venues to tacky TV commercials and the awful social media noise, this Indian team has had the luck all the way to the final.
If they win, it will be a job well done, and nothing more. If they lose, everything could go wrong.
As captain, Suryakumar not only has the chance to become the first among equals to defend a World Championship.
He has led the side impressively for the last two years, although he hasn't quite lived up to his potential as a batter, especially on big days and against strong teams.
He can change it all on Sunday in what will be the most defining moment of his entire career. Any failure will be forgotten if he performs as expected on a warm evening.
But at Motera, India's one-stop destination for all major cricketing events, India will face one of the most "loved" cricketing nations.
On a given day, a Finn Allen, a Lockie Ferguson or a Matt Henry know how to perform above their capabilities.
This New Zealand team has an air of familiarity, but the most genial group of players in global cricket can never be underestimated.
A Mitchell Santner or a Glenn Phillips know how to play the hard way without ever being ugly.
The 'Boom Factor'
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For the Black Caps, who stunned South Africa in the semi-finals, the biggest threat on the given day will be 'Sardar from Ahmedabad'.
His name is Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah's four overs could be the difference between the two sides in the final. England found this out the hard way during their semi-final.
India's greatest fast bowler has been mostly used at the back-end of the opposition innings, but on Sunday, it will be interesting to see if he bowls first up against a rampaging Allen, who smashed a 33-ball-100 in the semi-final.
Arshdeep Singh or Hardik Pandya's new ball length might just be more conducive for hitting, and therefore, Bumrah getting to swing it both ways up-front could be difficult for the Kiwis.
But as Phillips had said on Friday, "Jasprit Bumrah is also a human. He can have an off day like us."
Abhishek Sharma's flop show
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Before the T20 World Cup began, Abhishek Sharma was the toast of the nation with his outstanding performances. Now, there are serious doubts as to whether he deserves a place in the playing eleven.
His technical frailties and one-dimensional game have been badly exposed, and if he plays in the final, Cole McConchie, the off-spinner, might be used straight away.
If he is dropped, then the middle-order will be too long, and Rinku Singh is also not in best form.
Will Kuldeep replace Varun?
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One problem that India didn't factor in was Varun Chakravarthy's repeated failures. The element of mystery seems to have vanished, and on good batting surfaces, he doesn't have magic deliveries to trouble batters.
Around the world, the word has spread that right-handers are playing his incoming deliveries as off-breaks or off-cutters, and against Kiwi right-handers, Chakravarthy could face trouble.
Kuldeep Yadav, who has played only one game in the tournament so far, could be a better choice as Chakravarthy's confidence has hit rock bottom.
Teams:
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India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Cole McConchie, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Devon Conway, Jimmy Neesham, Ish Sodhi.
Match Starts: 7 pm.
