AHMEDABAD, INDIA — India scripted history on Sunday by becoming the first team to retain the men’s Twenty20 World Cup title, demolishing New Zealand by 96 runs in a one-sided final at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The triumphant Blue Brigade also etched their name as the first side to claim the T20 crown three times, leaving the Kiwis still searching for their elusive first white-ball World Cup trophy. This victory carried extra sweetness for India, avenging their heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 50-overs World Cup final at the same venue three years prior.
Opting to bowl first amid dew concerns, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner unleashed four bowlers in the opening overs, but India’s openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma forged a blistering 98-run partnership. Samson blazed 89 with ruthless sixes, including three in a row off Rachin Ravindra, while Sharma hammered 52 off 21 balls featuring three maximums. Ishan Kishan then unleashed 54, propelling India to a mammoth 255-5, though James Neesham’s late three-wicket over curbed the momentum.
New Zealand’s chase unraveled spectacularly, slumping to 47-3 inside five overs despite Finn Allen’s early dropped chance. Jasprit Bumrah struck immediately, dismissing Ravindra with his first ball en route to a match-winning 4-15 haul, earning him player of the match honors. Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy piled on the pressure, as Tim Seifert’s gritty 52 and Santner’s defiant 43 couldn’t rescue the visitors, who folded for 159 in 19 overs.
“This feels extremely special,” beamed Bumrah post-match. “I’ve played one final here before and lost, but today we won on this flat wicket by drawing on all my experience.” Samson, with his third straight 80-plus score, scooped player of the tournament accolades, capping a night of batting carnage and bowling mastery that reaffirmed India’s dominance in the shortest format.