LAHORE: India became the first country to successfully defend the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup when they defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in a one-sided affair in Ahmedabad on Sunday. In doing so, India also became the first country to lift the silverware in a home event, as well as the only side to win the title thrice.

Blistering half-centuries by Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Abhishek Sharma helped India to post a colossal 255 for five after they were sent into bat. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel then shared seven wickets between them as New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs.

The 96-run victory in Ahmedabad not only helped India to bury the ghost of the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup 2023 final defeat against Australia, it also enabled them to win their fourth ICC Trophy within the past 12 months. Their other three titles include the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai, ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 in Navi Mumbai and the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 in Harare.

Sanju Samson continued his fairytale run in the tournament when he top-scored for India with a 46-ball 89 with five fours and eight sixes. Samson ended the series with 321 runs, including 97 not out against the West Indies in the final Super Eight Stage match and 89 against England in the semi-final. He was later named as the Player of the Tournament.

Abhishek Sharma finally came to the party when he scored a 21-ball 52 with six fours and three sixes, and added 98 runs from 43 balls for the first wicket with Samson.

After Abhishek’s departure, Samson added 105 runs in 48 balls for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan, who belted four fours and as many sixes in a 25-ball 54. Although Samson, Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav fell to Jimmy Neesham in a space of five deliveries as India slipped from 203 for one to 204 for four, New Zealand were already out of the match.

India recovered from the loss of losing three wickets in an over and piled on more agony on New Zealand when they collected 44 runs in the last three overs, including 24 runs in the final over bowled by Neesham in which Shivam Dube struck three fours and two sixes.

New Zealand needed a miracle to achieve the 256-run target, which did not happen as India followed their aggressive batting with disciplined and attacking bowling. As a result, half of the New Zealand side was back in the hut at the score of 72 in the ninth over, before the innings folded in 19 overs with the scoreboard reading 159.

After left-arm spinner Axar Patel claimed three for 27 to squeeze New Zealand’s run-chase, Jasprit Bumrah removed the lower-middle order as he finished with figures of four for 15. Bumrah was later adjudged player of the final.

For New Zealand, opener Tim Seifert top-scored with a 26-ball 52 that included two fours and five sixes, while captain Mitchell Santner scored a 35-ball 43 with three fours and two sixes.

Scores in brief:

FINAL – India beat New Zealand by 96 runs, Ahmedabad

INDIA 255-5, 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Ishan Kishan 54, Abhishek Sharma 52, Shivam Dube 26 not out; James Neesham 3-46)

NEW ZEALAND 159 all-out, 19 overs (Tim Seifert 52, Mitchell Santner 43; Jasprit Bumrah 4-15, Axar Patel 3-27)

PLAYER OF THE FINAL – Jasprit Bumrah (India)

PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT: Sanju Samson (India)