New Zealand copped a brutal punishment at the hands of the Indian batters as the Men in Blue clicked into top gear in the high-stakes T20 World Cup 2026 final on March 8, Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Fans have been stunned and left in awe as the defending champions racked up their second-highest T20I total and the highest-ever in a T20 World Cup final, mustering 255/5 in 20 overs.
Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma set wheels in motion for Team India:
Team India openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma took the Kiwi bowlers to the cleaners from almost the word-go, stitching an opening stand of 98 only in 7.1 overs. With New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner winning the toss on the night, the left-arm spinner sent the Men in Blue into bat. While the defending champions went in with an unchanged side, New Zealand replaced Cole McConchie with pacer Jacob Duffy. Nevertheless, the Black Caps bowled to Team India’s strengths, especially in the powerplay as India clobbered 92 runs in the powerplay, putting the hosts on track for a massive first-innings total. Abhishek Sharma, who has been struggling for form throughout the 20-team tournament, hammered an 18-ball fifty.
Rachin Ravindra provided the Kiwis with some respite, dismissing Abhishek for 52 as the left-handed batter chased a wide delivery. But Samson and Ishan Kishan kept going, getting boundaries at will to keep the scoreboard ticking, leaving the Black Caps dazed. New Zealand made a mini comeback by dismissing Samson (89), Kishan (54), Hardik Pandya (18) and Suryakumar Yadav (0) in a space of a few deliveries but it wasn’t enough to prevent India from breaching the 250-run mark.
Here’s how netizens reacted to Team India’s pyrotechnics:
253/7 in the Semi Final vs England.
255/5 in the Final vs New Zealand.That’s absolute box-office T20 cricket from Team India. pic.twitter.com/HiHdVo2agV
— Fouzan Fareed (@FouzanFareed) March 8, 2026
India have played outstanding 1st half .. 255- 5 ko sum karo it will be 8 ..
8 is saturn and indian team jersey colour is saturn !!
Indicating something good for the Indian team.. https://t.co/CK1FtFFSk9— Lalit Kishore Sharma (@KsharmaLalit) March 8, 2026
And ind has written history,by winning back to back t20wcs and became the first team to win the title 3 times and home one as well!!
They scored 255 and won by 70 runs,nz players are face yet another heart break and they collectively have decided to opt for baking..#T20WorldCup— Ayush Kumar (@Ayu4300) March 8, 2026
– 253/7 IN SEMI FINAL AGAINST ENG.
– 255/5 IN FINAL AGAINST NZ.THIS IS BOX OFFICE T20 CRICKET BY TEAM INDIA. 🔥#INDvsNZ #t20worldcup2026 pic.twitter.com/4vW1XNUSRz
— Raja Muhammad Qasim (@RajaMuhammadQa9) March 8, 2026
We can finally sit down for a breather! That innings had us on our feet the entire time! 👏🏾👏🏾#TeamIndia #T20WorldCup
— Roundglass Sports (@roundglass_sp) March 8, 2026
Well played Abhishek, Sanju, Ishan and Dube 🔥
This run fest in the final will win us the WC ❤️
Wish Dube was sent before Pandya, Surya and Tilak. Would have easily scored 270-280— BhubanVibe 😎 (@Sugar_daddy1703) March 8, 2026
Shivam Dube plays an outstanding cameo to lift Team India to 255:
Team India were 231/5 heading into the 20th and final over as Santner turned to James Neesham, who had figures of 3-0-22-3. However, Shivam Dube went hammer and tongs against the medium-pace bowler, clobbering three fours and two sixes.
The Men in Blue have now racked up three 250+ scores in this tournament.
