India delivered a dominant performance to defeat New Zealand by 96 runs and successfully retain the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in a historic final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

With the victory, India became the first team in T20 World Cup history to defend the title, producing a memorable display of power-hitting and disciplined bowling on the biggest stage of the tournament.

Batting first after New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to field, India produced a breathtaking batting performance. The hosts posted 255 for 5 in 20 overs, the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final.

Sanju Samson led the charge with a spectacular 89 off 46 balls, smashing boundaries and sixes to keep the scoreboard moving at a rapid pace. His innings set the tone for India’s dominance and became the highest individual score in a T20 World Cup final.

India’s batting depth was on full display as Ishan Kishan scored a quick 54, while Abhishek Sharma contributed a blazing 52 at the top of the order. Shivam Dube added the finishing touch with a powerful cameo late in the innings, helping India push the total beyond 250.

Facing a daunting target of 256, New Zealand struggled to build sustained partnerships during their chase. Wickets fell regularly as India’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure throughout the innings.

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah produced a match-winning spell, dismantling the middle and lower order with crucial breakthroughs. Spin duo Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy also played key roles by restricting the run flow and forcing mistakes from New Zealand’s batters.

Although wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert fought back with a half-century, the rest of the New Zealand lineup failed to keep up with the steep required run rate.

New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 159 in 19 overs, handing India a commanding 96-run victory in the final.

The triumph capped an impressive campaign for India, who entered the final in strong form after defeating England in a thrilling semifinal. The win also erased painful memories of the ODI World Cup final loss at the same venue in 2023.

With this victory, India not only retained their crown but also reinforced their status as one of the most dominant teams in T20 cricket.