Our Bureau
New Delhi
India has won the T20 World Cup 2026 for the third time, beating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final in Ahmedabad. The team posted a huge score of 255 for five in 20 overs, led by Sanju Samson’s 89 runs off 46 balls. New Zealand could only make 159 all out, with Jasprit Bumrah taking four wickets for 15 runs.
Under coach Gautam Gambhir, India played bold cricket. They hit the two highest totals in World Cup knockout history, first 253 against England in the semi-final, then 255 in the final. Players like Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Samson shared the load, showing team strength over solo stars.
This win drew rare praise from Pakistan legends, even as their team exited in the Super 8 stage. Shahid Afridi said India “deserved the title” for fearless play and said they could have scored 300 if not for some luck. He praised their batting power on Samaa TV.
Javed Miandad hailed India’s “strong cricket structure” that produces talent in all areas. He noted their winning culture leads to titles, like last year’s Champions Trophy.
England’s Mark Butcher lauded Gambhir for building a real team. He slammed Pakistan for sticking to “personal milestones and individual superstars,” while India moved on. “It’s the whole that wins T20 games,” Butcher said on a podcast.
