India vs New Zealand, Final, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - Commentary

The players are taking a lap of honour around the ground. Some of them showing their dance moves. Ishan, Abhishek and Arshdeep break into a bhangra and don't look like stopping until Tilak joins them. More bhangra. They'll be dancing into the night and we'll surely get more reactions as it all unfolds. Time to wrap things up. Was a memorable tournament for so many reasons and it ends with the home crowd going home very happy. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. This is Sagar Chawla signing off on behalf of Siva, Raju Peethala and MS Ramakrishnan. Good night!

It wasn't just Samson of course. Many others put their hand up at different points but if we don't start with Bumrah first, we're not doing our jobs right. Does that man understand the concept of pressure? Did someone not tell him it was a World Cup semi-final in Mumbai and not his own playground? Just unreal consistency in producing pure unfiltered magic. Like his slower balls today. Surya called him a national treasure and it might be the most accurate thing he's ever said. Don't forget Axar with those two sensational catches in Mumbai and the spell he bowled today. Dube with all his contributions, chipping in without fail. Kishan smashing it at the top and then adjusting to one-drop seamlessly. Hardik being nerveless in the semi-final. Tilak's belligerent pace-hitting lower down. Abhishek in the big final. And surely a few more that I can't recall off the top of my head.

2007, 2024 and 2026. From Johannesburg to Barbados to Ahmedabad. Dhoni, Rohit and now Surya joining the list. What a team he's had the honour of leading. One of the most dominant T20I sides of all time, smashing opponents left and right across the world and breaking new barriers with the bat. They took some time to get going in this tournament. The pitches were not to their liking and some unforeseen problems cropped up at the top of the order. But once it came into do-or-die territory, man did they step up. Foremost among the players leading the charge with the bat was Sanju Samson. What a story. From being broken and "out of his mind" to scoring a hat-trick of fifties, his whole life turning around in a matter of days.

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Twinkle, Twinkle, little star
T20 World Cup the Ultimate Star
Barbados catch oh so high
SURYA plucks it out of the SKY

20 teams in sub-continent
Scotland join in as late contingent
4 groups 4 games is the norm
Zimbabwe cook up a silent storm

Injury concerns for Aussie team
India chase a home title dream
Dew factor not a big worry
Arch-rivals ah, the same old story

Kiwi openers best partnership
Lungi Ngidi's slower ball trap
English openers a surprise burden
Darling boy at the Eden Gardens

Colombo Kandy - trial by spin
Mumbai, Chennai - six hitting den
Double super over in scathing heat
End of the road for Jonathan Trott

Proteas stumble on semi-final night
England fumble not without a fight
Maiden ton for Yuvraj Samra
Once in a generation Jasprit Bumrah

Twinkle, Twinkle little star
T20 World Cup the ultimate star
India set the bar so high
Like a diamond in the SKY

Surya taps both his cheeks with a big smile on his face as he walks up to receive the trophy. Maybe he wants to remind himself, that this is real. He receives the trophy from ICC Chairman Jay Shah and the players are jumping on the podium as he hoists it above his head. Fireworks go off. A few players are wrapped in the Indian flag and the shutterbugs are working overtime to capture it all. Still can see some packed stands. A lot of people haven't left and want to be part of this. Hardik now takes the trophy and walks over to the people with cameras. Wants some pictures with the trophy alone. Now he goes to the pitch and poses with the trophy with hands pointed towards it. Surya and Ishan follow suit as the trio pose on the pitch. SKY sits down legs crossed with the trophy in front of him. Axar with his son in one hand and the trophy in the other. Then he sits down on the pitch, medal in his mouth, trophy in front for a photo. Samson signs a few stumps. Lots of players with their families taking pics. SKY calls his players and asks them to do a lap of the ground, acknowledging the crowd. A jig from Varun, then Abhishek and Ishan join in. Samson sees Chahal (who's on media duties) and lifts him up. More dance moves from Ishan, Abhishek, Arshdeep and Tilak. Interviews, photos, celebrations... it'll go on into the night. While the players soak it all in, you can have a little recap of the tournament prepared by our very own Raju Peethala in his unique style.

Suryakumar Yadav | India captain: "I think it’ll take little bit of time (has it sunk in yet?), but definitely very happy with what has happened today. It has been a long journey. Started post-2024 World Cup when BCCI at that time, Jay (Shah) bhai, that time Secretary, Rohit (Sharma) Bhai and everyone, they showed faith in me, gave me an opportunity to lead this wonderful side and then it was a long, long, long cycle coming here again at the Shri Narendra Modi Stadium and doing it. I think it’s a special feeling. (how do you keep the pressure of being favourites away?) I think we knew that we were playing some good cricket throughout the two years and it was going really well. We just wanted to follow all the good habits which we followed in 2024 T20 World Cup. Tell the boys the same thing, what is the feeling of winning a World Cup, how do we want to play in the bilateral series, that taste which we want to take forward and go on to play a T20 World Cup. I think that was actually imbibed by everyone, to the team and the boys took it really well. (keeping faith in his players) I think it’s really important to understand what they (Sanju, Abhishek and Varun) are capable of. And I knew they had the match-winners in them. I think the timing was perfect for Sanju to come in. Varun Chakaravarthy, Abhishek Sharma, world number one players. We always knew that they had something special. No bigger stage than a final to do something. And also, especially how Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, they have been in the circuit for a really long time, taking care of each other with all the support staff. I think it was very, very special. (having Bumrah in the side) That’s what I said, like how Sanju said in the last game he wanted to give his Man of the Match to Jasprit Bumrah. Once in a generation bowler, I can call him as a national treasure right now. But he knows what needs to be done, how it needs to be done, the best in the business and hopefully he keeps doing that. Thank you. Thank you, Ahmedabad."

Now the turn of the Indian players to collect their medals. Big roar as Bumrah's name is first. Dube, Hardik, Axar, Samson.. they're all called up alphabetically by their surnames.

Mitchell Santner | New Zealand captain: "Yeah firstly that's it, I think proud of the boys to make it this far. Obviously, we had some challenges throughout the tournament, but, you know, at each stage, we kind of got through and put on a good show. Obviously, tonight, we were outplayed by a very good team in front of a great crowd. So, yeah, but I guess, proud of the boys. (on the reception NZ team gets in India) Yeah, I mean, most games we play, it’s always a great crowd and to see a big sea of blue out there was... obviously, we’re not the home favourites, but yeah, credit to India to win a title at home, it always comes with a lot of pressures. And I think, SKY and the boys should be pretty.. very, very proud of their work. (what went right in this tournament?) I think different guys stepped up at different times throughout every stage. And I think we were confronted with challenges throughout every stage. And, you know, it was nice to obviously get through. And obviously Super 8s and then the semi-final, we put on a pretty good show. And I guess tonight we were outplayed. But yeah again, I think the boys should be very proud of their work."

The match officials getting their medals first. New Zealand will be next. Runners-up again unfortunately. Have made the finals in 2015, 2019, 2021 and now 2026. Yet to win a limited-overs World Cup. The Ahmedabad crowd is cheering as they line up for the medals.

And finally we are set for the presentations.

Still waiting for the presentations. The Indians are now wearing jerseys which have "Champions" inscribed on it. Samson is pumped. He is hugged by Bumrah. Pandya is now flat on the floor with the Indian flag draped on his back. He is chilling with his legs crossed and shades on. Bumrah, Samson, Arshdeep, Kuldeep and Varun take a selfie. Then Arshdeep with Samson does the same. Ishan, Tilak and the others now taking selfies. More selfies as the Indians enjoy themselves.

More live visuals show Ishan and Pandya doing a jig. More of a Punjabi Bhangra as Pandya's girlfriend watches on, she too does a little jig. A few members of the Indian team take selfies and then lot of them pose for the cameras. Ishan makes a point, then removes his jersey to point something. Pandya is grooving away to the DJ's beats as Arshdeep has his phone out to take Abhishek and Gambhir's pic.

India players named Player of the Tournament in T20 WC
2014: Virat Kohli
2016: Virat Kohli
2024: Jasprit Bumrah
2026: Sanju Samson

Biggest win margins against a full-member side in T20 WCs
107 runs - WI vs ZIM, Mumbai WS, 2026
104 runs - SA vs BAN, Sydney, 2022
104 runs - WI vs AFG, Gros Islet, 2024
96 runs - IND vs NZ, Ahmedabad, 2026 Final
90 runs - IND vs ENG, Colombo RPS, 2012

96 runs is also India’s biggest win margin in T20 World Cups, bettering 93 runs against Namibia in Delhi earlier in the competition.

Highest match-aggregates in Men’s T20 WC knockouts
499 - IND vs ENG, Mumbai WS, 2026 SF
414 - IND vs NZ, Ahmedabad, 2026 Final
388 - AUS vs PAK, Gros Islet, 2010 SF
388 - IND vs WI, Mumbai WS, 2016 SF

Teams losing multiple T20 WC finals
2 - Pakistan (2007, 2022)
2 - Sri Lanka (2009, 2012)
2 - New Zealand (2021, 2026)

Captains with best win% in T20Is (FM teams)
80.77% - Suryakumar Yadav (M: 52, W: 42, L: 8, NR: 2)
80.65% - Rohit Sharma (M: 62, W: 50, L: 12)
78.38% - Sarfaraz Ahmed (M:37, W: 29, L: 8)
69.23% - Mitchell Marsh (M: 39, W: 27, L: 9, NR: 3)
66.67% - Graeme Smith (M: 27, W: 18, L: 9)
*min. 20 matches, including wins in Super Overs/Bowlouts

India in ICC white-ball tournaments since 2023
Matches: 33
Won: 31
Lost: 2

India in multi-nation T20I tournaments since 2023
Matches: 27
Won: 25
Lost: 1 (vs SA in this tournament)
NR: 1

Bumrah bowled 21 off his 24 balls today pace off (<128 kph) and picked 4/11. In comparison, New Zealand seamers bowled 32 and returned figures of 1/83.

T20 WC knockout games since 2016 (SF + Finals)
Matches: 15
Win by the chasing side: 11
Won by the side batting first: 4 (All four to India)
Of the 10 Men’s T20 WC finals, only four have been won by the side batting first, three of them by India.

India becomes the first team to win three T20 World Cups (2007, 2024, 2026); the first to defend their title and the first to do so at home.

Looks like we will have to wait a little bit more for the presentations. We will get every interview word-to-word as we have done all through the World Cup. Hang on as we still have a lot of stuff up our sleeves.