Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], March 8 (ANI): Fiery spells from Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah, along with a dominant top-order display by Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan, helped Team India make history by becoming the first nation to defend a T20 World Cup title after defeating New Zealand by 96 runs at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
After New Zealand opted to field first following the toss, Samson scored 89 off 46 balls with five fours and eight sixes, while Abhishek Sharma struck 52 off 21 balls with six fours and three sixes. Ishan Kishan added 54 off 25 balls with four boundaries and four sixes, and Shivam Dube provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 26 off eight balls to power India to 255/5.
In response, despite a half-century from Tim Seifert, who scored 52 off 26 balls with two fours and five sixes, New Zealand struggled against the disciplined bowling of Axar Patel, who took 3/27, and Jasprit Bumrah, who delivered a devastating spell of 4/15. India eventually bowled out New Zealand for 159 in 19 overs.
With the win, India secured their third T20 World Cup title, becoming the first team to successfully defend the trophy and the first host nation to win the tournament.
The victory also helped India erase memories of the 2023 ODI World Cup final at the same venue, where Australia ended India’s 10-match winning streak with a defeat in the final.
Chasing 256, New Zealand began aggressively as Seifert attacked Hardik Pandya in the second over with two fours and two sixes. However, Finn Allen, who starred in the semifinal, was dismissed for nine off seven balls after hitting an Axar Patel delivery to long-on, where Tilak Varma completed the catch. New Zealand were 31/1 in 2.4 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah then removed Rachin Ravindra for just one with a delivery that resulted in a sharp catch by Ishan Kishan. New Zealand slipped to 32/2 in 3.1 overs.
Seifert continued attacking, hitting Axar Patel for a four and a six, but the spinner struck back by dismissing Glenn Phillips for five. New Zealand were reduced to 47/3 in 4.5 overs and ended the powerplay at 52/3 with Seifert and Mark Chapman at the crease.
Seifert kept up the pressure by hitting Varun Chakravarthy for a couple of sixes, but Hardik Pandya dismissed Mark Chapman for three, and Varun Chakravarthy soon removed Seifert for 52. New Zealand were five down for 72 in 8.1 overs.
Daryl Mitchell and captain Mitchell Santner attempted to stabilize the innings, taking New Zealand to 88/5 after 10 overs and crossing the 100-run mark shortly after. However, their 52-run partnership ended when Axar Patel dismissed Mitchell for 17 off 11 balls.
Bumrah struck twice in quick succession in the 16th over, removing James Neesham for eight and Matt Henry for a duck. He later took his fourth wicket by dismissing Santner for 43 off 35 balls, leaving New Zealand at 152/9 in 17.3 overs.
Abhishek Sharma took the final wicket by dismissing Jacob Duffy for three, ending New Zealand’s innings at 159 in 19 overs.
Earlier, India produced a batting masterclass after being put in to bat. Openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma dominated the powerplay, putting New Zealand’s bowlers under pressure.
After a cautious start, India accelerated in the fourth over, scoring 24 runs off Lockie Ferguson with two fours and two sixes. The pair became the first opening duo to register a 50-plus partnership in a T20 World Cup final, with India reaching 50 runs in just four overs.
New Zealand’s pacers, including Matt Henry, struggled with their line and length, with Henry bowling four wides in the fifth over. The team delivered eight extra balls in the powerplay, the most they have bowled in a T20I powerplay, allowing India to capitalize and race to 92 runs in the first six overs, the highest powerplay score in a T20 World Cup match.
Abhishek Sharma brought up his half-century in just 18 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes to record the fastest fifty of the tournament.
Rachin Ravindra eventually provided the breakthrough when Sharma edged a delivery to the wicketkeeper after scoring 52 off 21 balls. However, the 98-run opening stand had already laid the foundation for a massive total, with India at 98/1 in 7.1 overs.
Samson and Ishan Kishan maintained the momentum, taking India to 127/1 after 10 overs. Samson reached his half-century in 33 balls, registering his third consecutive fifty of the tournament and joining Virat Kohli and Shahid Afridi as the only players to score fifties in both a T20 World Cup semifinal and final.
India continued the assault, scoring another 24-run over off Lockie Ferguson as the team crossed the 150-run mark in 11.3 overs. Samson then struck Rachin Ravindra for three consecutive sixes in the 14th over.
Ishan Kishan reached his half-century in 23 balls with three fours and four sixes, helping India cross the 200-run mark in the 15th over.
The 105-run partnership between Samson and Kishan ended when Samson was caught at long-on off James Neesham after scoring 89. In the same over, Neesham dismissed Kishan for 54 and captain Suryakumar Yadav for a duck, briefly slowing India’s momentum.
Hardik Pandya scored 18 off 13 balls before being dismissed by Matt Henry, leaving India at 226/5 in 18.2 overs.
Shivam Dube then delivered a powerful finish, smashing three fours and two sixes off James Neesham in the final over to help India reach 255/5 in 20 overs, the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final.
Mitchell Santner bowled an economical spell for New Zealand, conceding 33 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket, while James Neesham was the most successful bowler with figures of 3/46.
Brief scores: India 255/5 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Ishan Kishan 54; James Neesham 3/46) beat New Zealand 159 in 19 overs (Tim Seifert 52, Mitchell Santner 43; Jasprit Bumrah 4/15). (ANI)
About The Author
