India Wins Third T20 World Cup
India crushed New Zealand by 96 runs in the T20 World Cup final at Ahmedabad to claim a record third title. Sanju Samson's explosive 89 and Jasprit Bumrah's 4-15 were decisive, while over 100,000 fans celebrated in the world's largest cricket stadium. Samson credited mentorship from Sachin Tendulkar as pivotal to his World Cup success.
This victory marks a historic first as India becomes the only nation to win a Men's T20 World Cup on home soil. The win at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium also made them the first team to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title. The triumph was a redemption of sorts, erasing the painful memory of losing the 2023 ODI World Cup final to Australia at the very same venue. For Jasprit Bumrah, who was named Player of the Match in the final, the victory at his home ground was particularly special after the heartbreak of the previous final. Sanju Samson's spectacular 89 off 46 balls in the final is the highest individual score ever in a Men's T20 World Cup final, surpassing the previous record of 85. He was also named Player of the Tournament, finishing with 321 runs, the most by an Indian batter in a single T20 World Cup edition. Jasprit Bumrah's bowling was exceptional throughout the tournament, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets. His remarkable figures of 4-15 in the final were instrumental in dismantling the New Zealand chase. India's total of 255/5 was the highest ever in a T20 World Cup final, and the first time a team had crossed the 200-run mark in the tournament's ultimate match. The foundation was laid by Abhishek Sharma's 18-ball fifty, the fastest of the tournament. For New Zealand, this was another heart-breaking final. It marked their fourth consecutive loss in a major white-ball tournament final, having previously lost the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cup finals and the 2021 T20 World Cup final. The victory was India's first over New Zealand in a Men's T20 World Cup match. Prior to this final, New Zealand held a dominant record against India in ICC tournaments, making this win even more significant for the Indian side.
