Team India has repeated, defeated, and created history. They have become the first team in the world to win the T20 World Cup three times. The final match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 was played between the India and New Zealand cricket teams on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The Indian team managed to win by a huge margin of 96 runs.
With the World Cup-winning campaign complete, Team India once again becomes the T20 Champion as they beat New Zealand in the final match of the T20 World Cup 2026, played between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad. The Indian team set a target of 256 runs and restricted New Zealand to 159 runs in 19 overs. Jasprit Bumrah played a key role in India’s victory by taking four wickets.
T20 World Cup 2026 Final Highlights
Chasing the target of 256 runs set by India to win, the Kiwi team had a poor start. Finn Allen was dismissed on the fourth ball of the third over. After this, the Kiwis lost wickets at regular intervals. However, Tim Seifert held on at one end and continued the fight. However, a lack of support from the other end sapped his patience, and this cost New Zealand the World Cup.
Captain Mitchell Santner Shows Courage in Defeat. Chasing the target for New Zealand, only captain Mitchell Santner, apart from Seifert, managed to stay at the crease for some time. Batting at number seven, he faced a total of 35 balls and managed to score 43 runs at a strike rate of 122.85, hitting three fours and two sixes. Chasing the target, the Kiwis were all out for 159 runs in 19 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah took the most wickets and was India’s most successful bowler in the final. He bowled a total of four overs, taking four wickets for 15 runs at an economy rate of 3.75, for which he was rewarded with the Player of the Match award. Axar Patel took three, while Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, and Abhishek Sharma each took one wicket.
Earlier, after losing the toss in Ahmedabad and batting first, India managed to score 255 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. Opening the innings, Sanju Samson once again topped the innings, scoring a half-century of 89 runs from 46 balls at a strike rate of 193.47. Cricket fans witnessed five fours and eight beautiful sixes from his bat.
Not only Samson, but also Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma performed well in the final match. Opening the innings, Abhishek Sharma scored 52 runs in 21 balls at a strike rate of 247.61, and Ishan Kishan, batting at number three, contributed 54 runs in 25 balls at a strike rate of 216.00. In the final overs, Shivam Dubey scored a quick, unbeaten 26 runs in eight balls.
Suryakumar Yadav’s and Hardik Pandya’s bats did not perform well. Indian cricket fans were expecting a fiery innings from Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya in the final match. However, both batsmen flopped. Batting at number five, Suryakumar Yadav failed to open his account, while Hardik Pandya was dismissed for 18 runs in 13 balls.
Jimmy Neesham was the most successful bowler for New Zealand in the final match. He bowled four overs and conceded 46 runs at an economy rate of 11.50, taking three wickets. Neesham’s victims were Sanju Samson (89), Ishan Kishan (54), and Suryakumar Yadav (0). Besides them, Rachin Ravindra dismissed Abhishek Sharma (52), and Matt Henry dismissed Hardik Pandya.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav Praised His Players
Suryakumar Yadav’s team wrote another golden chapter in Indian cricket, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs on Sunday (March 8) to win India’s third T20 World Cup. Sanju Samson played a key role in this victory, while Jasprit Bumrah’s contribution will also be remembered. The Indian team has become the first men’s international cricket team to win the T20 World Cup for the second consecutive time.
With this, the Indian team has become the first team in the world to win the T20 World Cup three times (2007, 2024, and 2026). Two teams, West Indies and England, have won the T20 World Cup twice each. However, India is the only team in the world to have won the trophy three times.
This may have also healed the old wounds of Rohit Sharma’s team, which lost the ODI World Cup final to Australia on the same ground three years ago. Sanju Samson’s 89 off 46 balls and Abhishek Sharma’s 52 off 21 balls laid the foundation for victory, taking India to 98 in the powerplay. India scored 255 for five.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner suffered the consequences of replacing Cole McConchie in the playing eleven. New Zealand was bowled out for 159 in front of approximately 86,000 spectators. Jasprit Bumrah was named Player of the Match for this performance. Sanju Samson, who scored three consecutive fifties, was named Player of the Tournament.
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Surya Joins Dhoni’s Club
Suryakumar, who lives in Chembur, Mumbai, has added his name to the list of T20 World Cup-winning captains, joining Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. The contribution of coach Gautam Gambhir, who led India to two consecutive T20 World Cup victories, cannot be forgotten.
Jasprit Bumrah once again proved why he is the world’s number one fast bowler, taking four wickets for 15 runs in four overs. This Indian team, packed with IPL stars, was already considered a strong contender for the title. This claim only grew stronger with a new match-winner in each match.
ICC Announces Record Prize Money
The International Cricket Council (ICC) set a record total prize money for this tournament at $13.5 million, up from $11.25 million in the previous edition. This represents a nearly 20 percent increase compared to the tournament held two years ago.
This record increase in prize money is largely due to strong sponsorship deals and increased viewership in India and Sri Lanka. The additional funding has ensured that teams performing well on the field receive appropriate rewards.
How many crores did India and New Zealand receive?
The Indian team received $3 million from this record prize money, which was already fixed for the winner. This is equivalent to approximately INR 27.48 crore in Indian currency. While New Zealand’s dream of winning the trophy was shattered, the Kiwi team also became millionaires. New Zealand received $1.6 million (approximately INR 14.65 crore).
Financial Rewards for All Teams
Each team participating in the tournament is awarded prize money based on its performance and how far it progresses in the competition. The two losing semi-finalists, England and South Africa, received $790,000 (approximately INR 7.24 crores).
Meanwhile, teams that reached the Super 8 stage but failed to advance received $380,000. Teams that failed to advance beyond the first round will also be paid. All 20 teams participating in the tournament will receive a minimum of $250,000.
With this, India also became the first country to win the T20 World Cup for the third time. India won the T20 World Cup in 2026, after winning in 2007 and 2024. India had set a target of 256 runs for New Zealand to win. However, New Zealand were all out for 159 runs in 19 overs. Thus, India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs, becoming the team to win the T20 World Cup for the second consecutive time.
India’s bowlers and batsmen performed brilliantly in the final. Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets for just 15 runs in four overs. Axar Patel also played a key role in India’s victory, dismissing three batsmen for 27 runs in three overs. Earlier, India posted a massive total of 255 runs in 20 overs thanks to explosive innings from Sanju, Kishan, and Abhishek.
The Indian men’s cricket team created history in Ahmedabad. Suryakumar Yadav-led Team India defeated New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026 final to lift the trophy for the third time. With this, India became the first team in the world to win the T20 World Cup three times. This is also the first time a team has won the T20 World Cup on its own home soil.
Furthermore, India also became the first country to win the tournament for the second consecutive time. With this memorable victory, India not only made its mark in world cricket but also captured a record prize money. The Indian team has become a millionaire. Here is how many crores of rupees in prize money India received from the ICC for winning the title.