India put on a staggering 255/5 batting first at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson all smashed fifties as the hosts put on the highest ever score in a T20 World Cup final. The Kiwis will now need to achieve a record chase to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 title.
India were put into bat after Mitchell Santner won the toss at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson took the attack to the Kiwi bowlers in the powerplay. They raised a quick-fire 98-run stand in just 7.1 overs to provide a great platform to the following batters. Ishan Kishan carried forward the good work with a 25-ball 54.
Batting with sheer authority and least respect for the Kiwi bowlers, India crossed the 200-run mark in 15 overs. India did suffer a mini collapse, losing Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav for low scores.
New Zealand succeeded in putting the brake on the run flow by dismissing Samson, Kishan and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (0) in a space of six balls. Pacer James Neesham took all three wickets in the 16th over to somehow stop the game from slipping away.
Hardik Pandya (18) did not last long but Shivam Dube (26 not out) provided a flourishing finish, creaming off 24 runs in the final over from Neesham.
India managed 52 in last five overs, thanks to Dube's fiery knock. It was the highest ever total in a final of T20 World Cup.
