India showcased a dominant performance against New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan’s aggressive partnership propelled India to a commanding position, surpassing 200 runs in just 15 overs after a record-breaking Power-play of 92/0.
Samson’s impressive display included hitting towering sixes off Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner, setting a new record for the highest number of sixes in a single T20 World Cup edition with 21 sixes. On the other hand, Kishan reached his fifty off 24 balls with aggressive stroke-play, adding to India’s strong total.
Former Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar praised the duo’s performance, highlighting Samson’s smart batting approach and Kishan’s exceptional bat speed and shot selection. With the scoreboard showing 203/1 at the 15th over, India’s aggressive batting put immense pressure on New Zealand bowlers, delighting the crowd with every boundary.
Despite the strong start, India faced a setback as Samson was caught by substitute Cole McConchie off James Neesham for 89 runs, disrupting India’s momentum. Shortly after, Kishan and Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav fell to Neesham’s bowling, leading to a quick decline in India’s score to 204/4 within six deliveries.
