Ahmedabad, March 9, IPU Media Sports Update News: Team India has created history. It has rewritten the record books by winning the third title in the history of the ICC T20 World Cup, which is held every two years, in a way that no other team has been able to do. They defeated their opponent New Zealand by 96 runs in the final match held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday night and retained the trophy. This is the second consecutive World Cup for India, which entered the ring as the defending champion (after 2024), and they have become the first team to win this trophy at home. In the final, India scored a record 255 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs with devastating knocks from Sanju Samson (89 off 46 balls, 5 fours, 8 sixes), Ishan Kishan (4 fours, 4 sixes, 25 balls), and Abhishek Sharma (52 off 21 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes). In the chase, Bumrah (4/15)’s pace and Axar Patel’s (3/27) spin magic saw the Kiwis collapse to 159 in 19 overs. Tim Seifert (52 off 26 balls, 2 fours, 5 sixes) was the top scorer, but except for captain Mitchell Santner (43 off 35 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes), everyone else was disappointing. Bumrah was named ‘Player of the Match’ and Samson (321 runs) was named ‘Player of the Tournament,

** The New Zealand cricket team was unable to compete at any stage.**

The New Zealand cricket team did not move towards the target at any stage on the field. The Kiwis’ defeat was confirmed halfway through the innings as the Indian bowlers took wickets regularly. The Black Caps batting line-up was shattered by the blows of Bumrah and Axar. The devastating Finn Allen (9), who had ruined the Safari bowling in the last match with a century in 33 balls, was out in the third over, and the team was in trouble. Although Dube missed his catch at mid-off in the first over, Axar, who strategically bowled in the third over, checked him. While coming to bowl, Bumrah sent Rachin (1) to the pavilion and dealt another blow to the Kiwis. Ishan’s brilliant catch ended the Rachin story. Axar clean bowled the dangerous Phillips with another super delivery in his next over. While his teammates were queuing for the pavilion, opener Seifert played fast. Hardik hit two sixes and fours in the second over. Varun reached his fifty in 23 balls with two sixes in the seventh over. But the team lost two more crucial wickets in the space of 4 balls. Hardik dismissed Chapman (3) and Ishan took another brilliant catch at the boundary of Seifert’s catch off Varun’s bowling. The Kiwis’ batsmen’s entire game was focused on reducing the margin of defeat.

** The scoreboard showed rocket speed.**

It didn’t take long for the Kiwis captain to realize how wrong he was by giving India the batting order after winning the toss. Abhishek Sharma, who had failed miserably throughout the tournament and was heavily criticized, once again proved how dangerous he is when he gets into the crease. As expected by the fans, he seems to have saved all his hard work for the final. Even if it was a short period of time, the havoc he created was not all that. With Sanju, who was in full form, also joining him at the other end, the Indian scoreboard showed rocket speed.

Keeping in mind Abhishek’s weaknesses, Santner in the second over.. Although he gave the ball to Phillips, this time he showed restraint, but he hit two fours in the Duffy over. Sanju, who opened his account with a six, hit 6.4 in Ferguson’s over, while Abhishek also scored 24 runs in that over with a four and a six. In Henry’s over, both of them hit a six each, while Abhishek scored 4, 6, 4, 2, 4 off Duffy’s bowling, scoring a half-century in just 18 balls. With this, India scored 92 runs without losing any wickets in the power play. However, Rachin, who took the ball in the 8th over, dismissed Abhishek and ended the 98-run first wicket partnership.

** India crossed the 250-run mark for the third time in this tournament.**

With the openers’ aggressiveness, India crossed the 100-run mark in just 7.2 overs, and Ishan, who came into the crease in place of Abhishek, was no less impressive. He hit two boundaries as he came in. Sanju, who took a single off the last ball of Santner in the 11th over, reached his third consecutive half-century in this tournament. Sanju hit a hat-trick of sixes in the Rachin over. Ishan also bowled Santner with 6 and 4. Team India was 203/1 in 15 overs and everyone thought that it would go to 280. But Neesham gave a ‘triple’ shock in a single over. Samson, who was about to bowl the first ball of the full toss, was caught by McCunchie, narrowly missing out on a century in the third consecutive match. Ishan also played an unnecessary shot on the fifth ball and was caught by Chapman. Ishan and Sanju added 105 runs in 48 balls for the second wicket. Captain Surya was out for a duck on the last ball. After that, Hardik (18) also departed after only 27 runs were scored in 3 overs. But in the last over, Dube (26 not out in 8 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) squeezed out 24 runs with 4, 6, 6, 4, 4, India crossed the 250-run mark for the third time in this tournament.

** Victory was won where it was lost **

Team India found where it was lost. The Men in Blue, who lost the ODI World Cup title on this same stage about two and a half years ago, this time did not give that opportunity to their opponent and proudly kissed another ICC trophy. Team India, which left its fans in deep pain after losing to Australia in the ODI World Cup, has reduced that pain a little with the latest tournament victory.

** Brief scores**

* India cricket team: 255/5 in 20 overs (Sanju 89, Ishan 54, Neesham 3/46, Rachin 1/32); *New Zealand cricket team: 159 all out in 20 overs (Seifert 52, Santner 43, Bumrah 4/15, Axar 3/27)

** Team India won its 5th trophy in the T20 World Cup.**

Team India won its 5th trophy in the ODI and T20 World Cups organized by the ICC as part of limited-overs cricket. India won the cup in 1983, 2011 (in ODIs), 2007, 2024, 2026 (T20). If you include the Champions Trophy, it is the 8th title in total. India won in 2022 (jointly with the Kiwis), 2013, 2025. The Men in Blue are next in this list after Australia (10).

** This is India’s biggest win (in terms of runs) in T20s. Earlier, they won against Namibia by 93 runs in the same tournament.
** The Kiwis are the third team (Pakistan in 2007 and 2022, Sri Lanka in 2009 and 2012) to reach the final of this tournament twice and not win the title.

—- M Venkata T Reddy, News Editor And Investigative Journalist,