Sanju Samson’s innings of 89 off 46 balls fell agonisingly short of the century that would have been the perfect finale to his World Cup final performance, but the runs he did score proved more than sufficient as India crushed New Zealand by 96 runs to retain the T20 World Cup. His dismissal, caught at long-on off a full toss, came at a moment when the total had already outgrown any realistic hope New Zealand harboured of chasing it. For India and their fans, 89 was enough for history.
India’s first innings was one of sustained aggression and genuine batting brilliance. Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a 50 off 18 balls that took the powerplay to record-equalling heights, and Kishan’s 54 off 25 maintained the pressure long after Sharma departed. By the 14th over, India had reached 191 for one, and the possibility of a 300-plus score was being discussed in the commentary box.
A late-innings wobble saw four wickets fall in the final five overs, with Suryakumar Yadav dismissed for a golden duck having attempted an extraordinary reverse scoop off a short, wide delivery. Jimmy Neesham’s over yielded the peculiar combination of one run and three wickets. Despite the chaos, India reached 255, a total that remained well beyond New Zealand throughout their reply.
New Zealand’s chase was never competitive. Finn Allen, so destructive in the semi-final, made nine before exiting, and the top order collapsed before Seifert’s half-century provided some belated respectability. Bumrah was man of the match with three wickets of the highest class.
India have now done what no men’s T20 team has done before — defend the World Cup title, and do so on home soil. It is an achievement that will stand in cricket’s record books for years, perhaps decades, to come.
