Ahmedabad, March 8 – The Narendra Modi Stadium was a sight to behold during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, with a spectacular laser show and fireworks adding to the excitement for the fans. The event followed performances by Falguni Pathak, Sukhbir Singh, and Ricky Martin, setting the stage for a thrilling cricket match between India and New Zealand.
India's top batsmen continued their impressive form, with Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan all scoring explosive half-centuries, helping the defending champions reach a total of 255/5. On a flat pitch, this is the highest score ever recorded at the stadium, and the third-highest in Men’s T20 World Cup history. Samson scored 89 off 46 balls, Abhishek scored 52 off 21 balls, while Kishan scored 54 off just 25 deliveries.
India started cautiously, but soon exploded as New Zealand bowlers struggled to find a consistent line. The early introduction of pacers Jacob Duffy and Lockie Ferguson backfired as boundaries flowed freely. Abhishek Sharma's whirlwind fifty off just 18 balls set the tone for a record-breaking powerplay, while Samson and Kishan continued the onslaught in the middle overs, helping India reach their 100th six of the tournament.
By the 15th over, the defending champions had already surpassed the previous highest team total in a T20 World Cup final. Sachin Tendulkar praised the duo, saying, "Sanju is batting very smartly, knowing whom to attack and whom to defend against. Ishan Kishan has shown superb bat speed and played some unbelievable shots. 275 looks very much possible, it will be a fantastic score!"
However, the final overs saw New Zealand fight back through James Neesham, who picked up three key wickets in quick succession. Samson was first to fall for 89, followed by Kishan for 54, and Suryakumar Yadav departed for a duck. Shivam Dube then unleashed a late onslaught, plundering 26 runs off the last eight balls, ensuring India crossed the 250-mark and putting them in a commanding position to defend their title.
