India created history by becoming the first team to win the T20 World Cup three times, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to bowl.
India’s innings was built on a blistering opening stand between Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, who added 98 for the first wicket in 43 balls. Abhishek raced to a quick half-century before falling for 52, while Samson continued the charge and brought up his third successive fifty of the tournament.
Samson’s 89 and Ishan Kishan’s 54 kept India on course for a massive total, though New Zealand struck back with a dramatic 16th over that produced three wickets for just one run. India recovered strongly at the death as Shivam Dube hammered 24 runs in the final over, taking the total to 255/5.
Chasing 256, New Zealand were pegged back by India’s bowlers after Tim Seifert’s early aggression. Axar Patel removed key batters and finished with three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah struck regularly and ended with four. New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs.
Bumrah was named Player of the Match for his spell, and Samson received the Player of the Tournament award after scoring three consecutive half-centuries in the Super 8s, semi-final and final.
