Summary

  • T20 World Cup final, Ahmedabad

  • India crush New Zealand by 96 runs to defend title

  • India 255-5 (20 overs): Samson 89 (46), Kishan 54 (25), Abhishek 52 (21); Neesham 3-46

  • NZ 159 (19 overs): Seifert 52 (26); Bumrah 4-15, Axar 3-27

Have your say on the Men's T20 World Cup

  1. Postpublished at 17:58 GMT 8 March

    Media caption,

    Varma takes catch from Duffy as India successfully defend T20 World Cup

    Time to say farewell.

    India have won their third T20 World Cup, successfully defending the title they won in 2024 with a 96-run thrashing of New Zealand.

    Take a read of Matthew Henry's report to find out how they became the first men's team to achieve that feat, and the first to win on home soil.

    There's plenty more cricket ahead in the coming months, with county cricket back next month and the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League approaching.

    We'll see you for all of that before another international summer.

    Have a good evening.

  2. Postpublished at 17:49 GMT 8 March

    Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner put on 52 for the sixth wicket after Seifert was dismissed, but New Zealand were never in the chase.

    Axar Patel removed Mitchell before Jasprit Bumrah rattled through the Kiwi tail.

    Media caption,

    'India will be partying all night long' - Seifert fifth New Zealand wicket to fall

    Media caption,

    Kishan takes his thid catch of the game as Mitchell is dismissed for 17

    Media caption,

    'Brilliant' Bumrah takes two wickets in two balls

  3. Postpublished at 17:46 GMT 8 March

    New Zealand's openers drove them to a spectacular win over South Africa in the semi-final, but India dismissed Finn Allen for nine in the third over.

    Tim Seifert hit 52 from 26 balls, but Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman made single figure scores in the middle-order as India dominated.

    Media caption,

    Varma takes catch at long-on boundary to dismiss Allen for nine

    Media caption,

    Bumrah strikes first ball as Ravindra is caught by Kishan for one

    Media caption,

    Phillips 'done for pace' as Patel takes the leg stump out the ground

    Media caption,

    Seifert reaches half-century despite New Zealand struggling in run chase

  4. Postpublished at 17:41 GMT 8 March

    Sanju Samson's player of the tournament win comes after he made consecutive scores of 97 not out against the West Indies in the final Super Eight game, 89 against England in the semi-final and the same score today.

  5. 'I was courageous enough to dream'published at 17:38 GMT 8 March

    Player of the tournament Sanju Samson: "It feels like a dream. Very happy, very grateful. Out of words, out of emotions, it's a bit surreal.

    "I think this started two years ago. In 2024 I couldn't get a game. I started working, this is exactly what I wanted to achieve. After the New Zealand series I was broke, but I was courageous enough to dream about it.

    "The last couple of months I have been in constant touch with Sachin Tendulkar. When I was outside the team in Australia I reached out to him. Yesterday he called me up, getting guidance from him, what more can I ask for?

    "This is very big for me. I need to enjoy it for now and then figure out what next to do."

  6. 'Special on my home ground'published at 17:37 GMT 8 March

    Media caption,

    'Brilliant' Bumrah takes two wickets in two balls

    Player of the match Jasprit Bumrah: "It feels special because I played one final at my home venue [against Australia in 2023] and couldn't win that one. I was really motivated today and used all my experience on a flat wicket. It went exactly as planned.

    "Before this tournament I was in that zone where I was trying too hard but in this format I let the game come to me. I read the situation and believed in myself. I couldn't be happier and it's special to win man of the match in the World Cup final on my home ground."

    On executing his plans in the final: "I have learned here when you try to bowl too fast the ball can skid on to the batters so you have to be smart and have clarity with execution.

    "Everybody in the bowling group came up with their options throughout the tournament. We kept calm and never panicked. We always felt we could keep our heads above the water."

  7. Postpublished at 17:33 GMT 8 March

    Sanju Samson put on 105 for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan, who hit 54 from 25 balls.

    Jimmy Neesham broke the pairing, removing both batters and India captain Suryakumar Yadav inside the 16th over to offer New Zealand a crumb of hope.

    Media caption,

    Neesham takes three wickets in an over as NZ halt India charge

  8. 'One of the biggest days'published at 17:31 GMT 8 March

    India batter Shivam Dube: "I was there to hit big sixes. I always back myself and when I get the opportunity I will try to do that.

    "It's one of the biggest days today, the crowd was amazing and the tournament belongs to them. We have the love from them."

  9. Postpublished at 17:29 GMT 8 March

    India's formidable total of 255-5 was built on an opening partnership of 98 from Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.

    Abhishek hit 52 from 21 balls, while Samson struck 89 from 46 - here's the best shots from his innings.

    Media caption,

    Sharma hits quickfire fifty as India make blistering start in T20 final

  10. Postpublished at 17:24 GMT 8 March

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    India have depth - particularly because of the IPL - and there is always someone ready to come in and take your spot which keeps players on their toes. Then they have trump cards like Jasprit Bumrah. There's so much to like about their diversity of skills.

  11. Postpublished at 17:22 GMT 8 March

    Abhishek Jhunjhunwala
    Former IPL batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    What's really impressive is the courage against the expectation that India were facing. To soak up that pressure and deliver they have played like champions.

  12. Postpublished at 17:20 GMT 8 March

    Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Heartbreak in 2023 for India but jubilation today. This is an outstanding unit of Indian cricketers. They are the best team in the world and they proved it in a World Cup final against New Zealand.

  13. Postpublished at 17:17 GMT 8 March

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    India fully deserve this T20 World Cup trophy. Nobody could argue that the strongest team hasn't won it. They brushed aside everyone else.

  14. Postpublished at 17:14 GMT 8 March

    Prakash Wakankar
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Abhishek Sharma takes the final wicket and the third star will go on those India jerseys. After the heartbreak of 2023 in the 50-over World Cup, they have won it in the 20-over tournament with a dominant performance.

  15. wicket

    India win the 2026 T20 World Cuppublished at 19 overs
    Breaking

    Duffy c Tilak Varma b Abhishek 3 (NZ 159 all out), India win by 96 runs

    Media caption,

    Varma takes catch from Duffy as India successfully defend T20 World Cup

    India defend their T20 World Cup title!

    They win their third world title in this format, and become the first team to win on home soil.

    They choose the 19th over to introduce a sixth bowler, with part-time spinner Abhishek Sharma coming on to bowl.

    Five singles come from his first five balls, before Jacob Duffy lumps a shot into the hands of Tilak Varma at long-on, with the fielder just avoiding stepping over the rope.

  16. Postpublished at 17:14 GMT 8 March

    Prakash Wakankar
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    India are on the verge making history by defending a title, and winning it on home soil. Thoughts are now turning how to celebrate this.

  17. NZ 154-9published at 18 overs

    Target 256

    Jacob Duffy is the last man out of the hutch.

    He exchanges singles with Lockie Ferguson, before a dot ball ends the over.

    Bumrah's day is done - he finishes with magnificent figures of 4-15.

  18. Postpublished at 17:10 GMT 8 March

    Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    India’s pace bowling at the death has been impressive since the Super Eights, where they have nine wickets at an average of just 20 and an economy under 10. Their method has been simple, with 50% attempted yorkers and just 5% of deliveries on a good length.

  19. Postpublished at 17:09 GMT 8 March

    Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Jasprit Bumrah has his arms aloft, fireworks going off, and again it's too good. He celebrates yet another wicket. This is India's day.

  20. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 17.3 overs

    Santner b Bumrah 43 (NZ 152-9)

    Media caption,

    Bumrah takes his fourth wicket as Santner is bowled for 43

    There goes the skipper!

    It's a fourth wicket for Jasprit Bumrah and the third where he's rattled some Kiwi stumps.

    Another off-cutter, a big attempted hoik from Santner, up go the bails.