Photo: Pratik Koli / CREIMAS for BCCI
Kathmandu, March 9
India national cricket team defeated New Zealand national cricket team by 96 runs on Sunday to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title, creating four historic records in the process.
Batting first after losing the toss, India posted a massive total of 255 runs riding on half-centuries from Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. Shivam Dube added a quick cameo, scoring an unbeaten 26 runs off just six balls. Chasing a daunting target of 256 runs, New Zealand were bowled out for 159 runs with one over remaining. Tim Seifert scored a half-century (52 runs), while only two other batters managed double figures.
India’s bowling attack dominated the chase. Jasprit Bumrah delivered a match-winning spell, taking four wickets while conceding just 15 runs in his four overs. Axar Patel supported strongly with three wickets, giving away 27 runs in three overs.
Playing in front of more than 120,000 spectators at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India lifted the T20 World Cup for the second consecutive time.
With the victory, India became the first team to win the tournament three times, having previously lifted the trophy in 2007 and 2024. They also became the first side to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title. The win marked India’s first-ever T20 World Cup victory over New Zealand, after three previous defeats. Additionally, India became the first team in nearly two decades of the tournament to win the title on home soil.
