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AHMEDABAD: Sanju Samson starred as dominant India thrashed New Zealand to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here on Sunday.
Set a daunting 256, New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs.
New Zealand were jolted early in a big chase as they were reduced to 47-3 in only 4.5 overs.
Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah were the chief tormentors as the BlackCaps could not get going.
With the asking rate rising, it was never an easy task for them. Tim Siefert resisted with a brisk half-century; his innings came to an end in the eighth over.
As a result, New Zealand were in dire straits with five down for 72 in 8.1 overs.
The game was long done and dusted as skipper Mitchell Santner scored a spirited 43 from 35 balls with the aid of three fours and two sixes, only reducing the margin of defeat.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah remained the standout bowler with four wickets to his name while Axar Patel managed to take three.
With this, India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup for a record third time and the first to successfully defend its title.
Earlier, Sanju Samson top-scored with 89 as India posted a mammoth total.
Asked to bat first, India racked up 244-6 in their 20 overs.
The foundation for a big total was laid by openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. The pair added 98 in 7.1 overs before Rachin Ravindra got him. The southpaw made 52 from 21, striking three sixes and half a dozen fours.
Despite the wicket, India continued on to pile runs as Kishan joined Samson at the crease. The pair forged a 105-run partnership from 45 balls to put India in a dominant position with the scorecard now reading 202 in 15 overs.
With India eyeing a 300-run target, Jimmy Neesham somehow provided New Zealand a respite with a triple-wicket over.
He took three in an over to halt the host charge and put his team back in the competition. Neesham first picked up Samson, who made 89 from 46, whereas Kishan scored 54 from 25 balls.
New Zealand did well to stem the flow of runs, but it was Shivam Dube’s whirlwind knock that took the total to over 250 runs. The left-hander made 20 off eight with the aid of two sixes and three fours.
For New Zealand, James Neesham scalped three wickets.
READ: WATCH: New Zealand bowler makes history with triple hat-trick
