IND vs NZ, T20 World Cup Final: India save perfect game for last to lift record 3rd trophy – Action in Images

Written by Kartikay Dutta

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

A masterpiece in saving your best for last – India with a clinical performance in Ahmedabad, sealing back-to-back titles with a 96-run victory.

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1 / 14

The weight of mighty expectations followed the Indian team into a home World Cup, and if they wanted to stake their claim as the best T20I outfit in the history of the format, a win over New Zealand in Ahmedabad was non-negotiable. It hasn't been a seamless campaign for India – but when it mattered most, everything clicked. This Indian team has the uncanny ability to show up in style in the biggest matches – and that is what earns you a historic World Cup title.(PTI)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

The weight of mighty expectations followed the Indian team into a home World Cup, and if they wanted to stake their claim as the best T20I outfit in the history of the format, a win over New Zealand in Ahmedabad was non-negotiable. It hasn't been a seamless campaign for India – but when it mattered most, everything clicked. This Indian team has the uncanny ability to show up in style in the biggest matches – and that is what earns you a historic World Cup title.(PTI)

2 / 14

India got things started after New Zealand won the toss and put them in to bat – and it was a dream start. A terrific powerplay for the openers, who went hammer-and-tongs and pilfered 92 runs from the first six overs. A sign of what India could be at their best – finally.(PTI)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

India got things started after New Zealand won the toss and put them in to bat – and it was a dream start. A terrific powerplay for the openers, who went hammer-and-tongs and pilfered 92 runs from the first six overs. A sign of what India could be at their best – finally.(PTI)

3 / 14

Criticism and consternation followed Abhishek Sharma into the final – going through a barren patch of form, should he even be involved? When it mattered most, Abhishek silenced his haters – an 18-ball half-century, cricket approximating his very best. Three sixes as he scored 52(21).(Sportz Asia)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

Criticism and consternation followed Abhishek Sharma into the final – going through a barren patch of form, should he even be involved? When it mattered most, Abhishek silenced his haters – an 18-ball half-century, cricket approximating his very best. Three sixes as he scored 52(21).(Sportz Asia)

4 / 14

97*, 89, 89 – three performances in three must-win games, Sanju Samson delivering again and again when his team needed him the most. It was another masterful innings, with incredible acceleration – 8 sixes, as he rose to the top of the leaderboard.(AP)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

97*, 89, 89 – three performances in three must-win games, Sanju Samson delivering again and again when his team needed him the most. It was another masterful innings, with incredible acceleration – 8 sixes, as he rose to the top of the leaderboard.(AP)

5 / 14

After the first wicket fell on 98, Ishan Kishan came in and continued the carnage. He made his excellent form count – 54(25) from his bat, pulling his weight in a century stand with Samson. By the 15th over, India were coasting on 203/1, looking set for close to 280.(PTI)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

After the first wicket fell on 98, Ishan Kishan came in and continued the carnage. He made his excellent form count – 54(25) from his bat, pulling his weight in a century stand with Samson. By the 15th over, India were coasting on 203/1, looking set for close to 280.(PTI)

6 / 14

From 203/1 to 204/4 in the space of an over! James Neesham with incredible impact – removing the set Samson and Kishan with a pair of awkward full-tosses, before picking up Suryakumar Yadav on a golden duck. How quickly things change – in this phase of play, India scored 28/4 in the next four overs of the death.(Sportz Asia)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

From 203/1 to 204/4 in the space of an over! James Neesham with incredible impact – removing the set Samson and Kishan with a pair of awkward full-tosses, before picking up Suryakumar Yadav on a golden duck. How quickly things change – in this phase of play, India scored 28/4 in the next four overs of the death.(Sportz Asia)

7 / 14

After India's stutter, a big finish was needed to regain momentum – and that is what Shivam Dube provided. All impact as he hammered a cameo of 26*(8) with a big last over – enough to push India forward, and finish on 255/5.(PTI)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

After India's stutter, a big finish was needed to regain momentum – and that is what Shivam Dube provided. All impact as he hammered a cameo of 26*(8) with a big last over – enough to push India forward, and finish on 255/5.(PTI)

8 / 14

Axar Patel's great boon to the Indian team is his flexibility. Targeting a key Kiwi weakness, Axar was called to bowl early in the powerplay – and he delivered immediately. His job was to dismiss Finn Allen, and that is what he did, removing the danger man and giving India just the start they needed to their defence.(PTI)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

Axar Patel's great boon to the Indian team is his flexibility. Targeting a key Kiwi weakness, Axar was called to bowl early in the powerplay – and he delivered immediately. His job was to dismiss Finn Allen, and that is what he did, removing the danger man and giving India just the start they needed to their defence.(PTI)

9 / 14

Axar's fielding was the difference-maker in the semifinal, and it was Ishan Kishan in the final. On Jasprit Bumrah's first ball, Rachin Ravindra chipped it into the air, and Kishan ran in a long way. He put in a full-length dive, and managed to hang on – somehow.(PTI)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

Axar's fielding was the difference-maker in the semifinal, and it was Ishan Kishan in the final. On Jasprit Bumrah's first ball, Rachin Ravindra chipped it into the air, and Kishan ran in a long way. He put in a full-length dive, and managed to hang on – somehow.(PTI)

10 / 14

Glenn Phillips became Axar Patel's second victim, as India took complete control in the powerplay itself; the Kiwi batter had his stumps rattled, and NZ limped to 52/3 in the powerplay. Axar would pick up Daryl Mitchell later on too – three key wickets, finishing with 3/27 in his 3-over spell.(REUTERS)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

Glenn Phillips became Axar Patel's second victim, as India took complete control in the powerplay itself; the Kiwi batter had his stumps rattled, and NZ limped to 52/3 in the powerplay. Axar would pick up Daryl Mitchell later on too – three key wickets, finishing with 3/27 in his 3-over spell.(REUTERS)

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Tim Seifert led a solo effort with the bat through the powerplay. He continued his fine tournament, taking down Hardik Pandya and then Varun Chakravarthy. His knock included five sixes.(REUTERS)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

Tim Seifert led a solo effort with the bat through the powerplay. He continued his fine tournament, taking down Hardik Pandya and then Varun Chakravarthy. His knock included five sixes.(REUTERS)

12 / 14

Kishan wasn't done having an impact in the field – another sharp, quick catch to get around and remove Tim Seifert, which all but sounded the death knell for New Zealand. It was already looking like a lost cause.(REUTERS)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

Kishan wasn't done having an impact in the field – another sharp, quick catch to get around and remove Tim Seifert, which all but sounded the death knell for New Zealand. It was already looking like a lost cause.(REUTERS)

13 / 14

Simply inevitable. He has had a terrific tournament yet again, and Jasprit Bumrah was able to put some gloss on it with a sequence of deadly dipping yorkers, which made the ball move like almost nobody else in the world of cricket can. Three quick wickets at the tail, finishing with scarcely believable figures of 4/15.(PTI)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

Simply inevitable. He has had a terrific tournament yet again, and Jasprit Bumrah was able to put some gloss on it with a sequence of deadly dipping yorkers, which made the ball move like almost nobody else in the world of cricket can. Three quick wickets at the tail, finishing with scarcely believable figures of 4/15.(PTI)

14 / 14

The winning moment! With Abhishek Sharma on to bowl an over right at the end, Jacob Duffy cloughed one down to long on, where Tilak Varma sorted out his feet, took the catch, lobbed it back in for safety, and sent Narendra Modi Stadium into delirium – a 96 run win for the back-to-back champions!(PTI)

Published on Mar 09, 2026 02:12 am IST

The winning moment! With Abhishek Sharma on to bowl an over right at the end, Jacob Duffy cloughed one down to long on, where Tilak Varma sorted out his feet, took the catch, lobbed it back in for safety, and sent Narendra Modi Stadium into delirium – a 96 run win for the back-to-back champions!(PTI)

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