Ahmedabad, March 8 – Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan each scored explosive half-centuries as the defending champions, India, posted a massive 255/5 against New Zealand in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
On a flat, hard pitch, India put up a total that is the highest ever recorded at the venue and the third-highest in Men's T20 World Cup history. This was built on a strong foundation laid by their top three batsmen, all of whom attacked from the outset with strike rates that demonstrated their dominance. Samson, who scored 89 off 46 balls, had a strike rate of 193.47, while Abhishek, who scored 54 off 25 balls, had a strike rate of 247.61, and Kishan, who scored 54 off 25 balls, had a strike rate of 216.
At several stages, a total of 280 or more seemed well within India's reach, but New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham intervened with 3-46. Shivam Dube then ensured India finished strongly, scoring 24 runs off the final over to push the total past 250. Dube's late assault of 26 off just eight balls had a strike rate of 325.
The early overs set an ominous tone for New Zealand before the tactical decision to introduce fast bowler Jacob Duffy in the third over backfired badly. Runs and boundaries flowed from there, as New Zealand's bowlers were put under pressure by slow balls and deliveries away from the stump lines.
Samson defended solidly off Matt Henry for the first four balls, before opening up with a stylish shot over long-on for six. After Glenn Phillips gave away five runs in the second over, Abhishek announced himself with a powerful heave off Jacob Duffy for four, before sweetly timing a lofted shot for another boundary.
Meanwhile, Samson smashed a Duffy inswinger back over the bowler's head for four. The pitch was a belter, and both batsmen were sensing this as the fourth over opened the floodgates for India. Lockie Ferguson endured a difficult introduction – two wides, with Abhishek and Samson taking two fours and sixes each, as the duo plundered 24 runs.
Henry's second over saw Abhishek launch a slower ball over mid-off for six before Samson pulled a bouncer for another maximum, even as four wides in the over told its own story. New Zealand's plans were clearly unraveling against batters who simply refused to stick to a plan.
Abhishek reached his half-century off just 18 balls in the sixth over, swatting and swinging his way to the milestone with nonchalance via three fours and a six, as India plundered 92 runs in the powerplay. Though Santner brought himself on in the seventh over, Samson cracked a cut off him for four.
Abhishek's fine innings ended in the eighth over when Rachin Ravindra pushed it wide, and the opener feathered an edge behind to the keeper to depart for 52. Ishan Kishan walked in and immediately adopted the template, as an on-drive for two brought up India's hundred in 7.2 overs. With an off-drive and a muscular four through mid-wicket, Kishan maintained India’s tempo.
Samson, after raising his third successive fifty, was on a different level – smashing Ferguson for two sixes and a four before smashing three consecutive sixes off Ravindra in the 14th over. By the 15th over, India had already surpassed the highest team total in a T20 World Cup final, even as Kishan’s audacious strokeplay got him his fifty off 23 balls.
But Neesham struck thrice in quick succession – Samson slapped a full toss to long-on and departed for 89, then Kishan holed out to long-on for 54, and captain Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for a golden duck.
Hardik Pandya smashed Henry for a six and four before the pacer dismissed him on a slower bouncer, and cover took the catch. Shivam Dube ensured India got a great finishing kick by lofting Neesham for four, before smashing the next delivery over midwicket for six and clearing cover for another maximum.
Dube then pulled Neesham for four and finished the innings with a cross-bat drive through cover, as India went past 250, thanks to 24 runs coming off the final over, and looked set to defend the title they won in 2024 on home soil.
Brief scores:
India 255/5 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Ishan Kishan 54, Abhishek Sharma 52; James Neesham 3-46, Rachin Ravindra 1-32) against New Zealand
