India Retain T20 World Cup, Clinch Record Third Title with 96-Run Win Over New Zealand
Bumrah’s 4-15, Samson’s Blitz Power India to Historic Third T20 World Cup Title
Fast bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah claimed 4/15 as India became the first team to retain the Men’s T20 World Cup title and lift the trophy for a record third time, thrashing New Zealand by 96 runs before 86,824 spectators at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
A blistering 89 off 46 balls from Sanju Samson, studded with five fours and eight sixes, powered India to 255/5 — the highest total ever in a T20 World Cup final. The bowlers then backed it up in style, with Bumrah and Axar Patel (3/27) dismantling New Zealand’s top order to seal the emphatic victory. The visitors were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs, with only Tim Seifert putting up resistance through a fighting 52.
Samson, continuing his rich vein of form after scores of 97 not out and 89 in his previous innings, shared a 98-run opening stand with Abhishek Sharma, who smashed 52 off 21 balls. Ishan Kishan further strengthened the innings with a brisk 54 off 25 deliveries. Though James Neesham briefly slowed India’s charge by picking up three wickets in an over, Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 26 off just eight balls ensured India crossed the 250-run mark.
India’s bowlers ensured there was no repeat of the semi-final scare against England, reducing New Zealand to 52/3 inside the powerplay. The win also ended two long-standing jinxes — India’s first victory over New Zealand in a T20 World Cup and their first ICC white-ball triumph in Ahmedabad after defeats in the 2023 ODI World Cup final and earlier in this tournament.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav became the fourth Indian skipper to guide the team to a men’s cricket World Cup title. Since taking over in July 2024, he has not lost a single series, underlining India’s dominance in the shortest format. Head coach Gautam Gambhir also celebrated his second ICC title as India successfully defended their Men’s T20 World Cup crown.
Defending a daunting target of 256, Arshdeep Singh generated early swing to keep Seifert and Finn Allen in check. Allen, who was dropped on two by Shivam Dube at mid-off, saw Seifert counterattack by smashing Hardik Pandya for two sixes and two fours in the second over, which yielded 21 runs. India responded quickly as Axar Patel, introduced in the third over, had Allen caught at long-on. Bumrah was brought into the attack in the fourth over and struck with his very first ball, dismissing Rachin Ravindra, who chipped an off-cutter to Ishan Kishan, who completed a brilliant diving catch.
Axar struck again in the fifth over, clean bowling Glenn Phillips with a cleverly disguised arm ball that slipped past the bat and hit the leg stump. New Zealand finished the powerplay at 52/3. Seifert continued to fight, bringing up his half-century off 23 balls by hitting Varun Chakaravarthy for two sixes.
However, India kept chipping away at the wickets. Mark Chapman chopped onto his stumps off Hardik Pandya, while Seifert miscued a pull shot and Kishan produced a remarkable effort in the deep, tossing the ball in the air before regaining balance to complete the catch.
The crowd was briefly stunned when Daryl Mitchell struck consecutive sixes off Arshdeep Singh. In a heated moment, Arshdeep fielded off his own bowling and threw the ball back at the batter, drawing an angry reaction from Mitchell. The umpire stepped in, after which Suryakumar Yadav apologised and Arshdeep shook hands with Mitchell at the end of the over.
Despite the mounting run rate, Mitchell and skipper Mitchell Santner — who had been dropped on 26 by Pandya — kept the fight alive with a flurry of boundaries. But Axar returned to dismiss Mitchell, who holed out to deep mid-wicket off a full toss.
Bumrah then wrapped up the tail in style, removing James Neesham and Matt Henry with slower deliveries. Tilak Varma later completed a fine catch of Jacob Duffy off Abhishek Sharma’s bowling as India lived up to their pre-tournament hype and scripted history in emphatic fashion.
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) beat New Zealand 159 in 19 overs (Tim Seifert 52, Mitchell Santner 43; Jasprit Bumrah 4-15, Axar Patel 3-27) by 96 runs
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