The neutrals wanted a thriller. India’s fans wanted a win. The team gave their supporters exactly what they wished for — a comprehensive, commanding, historic victory that left New Zealand 96 runs short and India the first men’s side to retain the T20 World Cup. It wasn’t the match neutrals would have scripted, but for the 100,000 blue-clad supporters packed into the stadium, it was everything they had dreamed of.
India’s batting in the first innings was the tournament’s defining performance. Abhishek Sharma’s 50 off 18 balls ignited a record-equalling powerplay of 92 for no loss. Sanju Samson’s 89 off 46 gave the innings its most important contribution, and Ishan Kishan’s 54 off 25 ensured the total climbed to 255 — the third time India had surpassed 250 in this World Cup. Shivam Dube’s 26 off eight in the final over added a flourish to an innings already defined by excellence.
New Zealand’s bowling attack was overwhelmed. Ferguson, Henry, and Duffy all conceded more than 15 runs in their opening overs. Jimmy Neesham took three wickets in one over for one run in a moment of bizarre statistical significance, but by then India had already scored 191 for one in the first 14 overs and the total was always going to be impressive.
Bumrah’s three-wicket haul with slow yorkers sealed the result in the second innings. New Zealand ended on 159, their chase one of the weaker efforts in World Cup final history. Their four final losses since 2015 form a record of near-misses that is as remarkable as it is heartbreaking.
India don’t make finals to provide thrillers. They make finals to win them. And winning them is something they do better than anyone else on the planet.