Ahmedabad (IANS): Fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah produced a masterclass in local conditions, claiming 4-15 to lead India to a historic T20 World Cup defense on Sunday. India became the first team to retain the trophy and the first to win three T20 world titles after crushing New Zealand by 96 runs at a packed Narendra Modi Stadium.
The Powerplay Assassins
Defending a massive 255/5, India’s bowlers wasted no time. While New Zealand’s Tim Seifert briefly threatened with a 21-run over off Hardik Pandya, India responded with ruthless efficiency:
- Axar Patel (3-27): Introduced in the third over, Axar drew first blood by removing Finn Allen. He later deceived Glenn Phillips with a perfect arm ball that shattered the stumps.
- Jasprit Bumrah: Striking with his very first delivery, Bumrah dismissed Rachin Ravindra courtesy of a spectacular diving catch by Ishan Kishan. He returned late in the innings to clean up the tail with his trademark slower balls.
Samson and Sharma Set the Stage
Earlier, the “Samson Storm” continued to batter opposition bowlers. Sanju Samson smashed 89 off 46 balls—his third consecutive half-century—to anchor the highest-ever total in a T20 World Cup final.
He found explosive support from Abhishek Sharma (52 off 21) and Ishan Kishan (54 off 25). Despite a late three-wicket burst from James Neesham, Shivam Dube provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 26 off 8 balls to propel India past the 250-mark.
A Legacy Cemented
The victory marks a “two-peat” for India and a second ICC title for Head Coach Gautam Gambhir. Captain Suryakumar Yadav joins the pantheon of World Cup-winning skippers—Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma—maintaining his incredible record of not losing a single series since taking charge in July 2024.
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Key Figures |
| India | 255/5 (20) | Samson 89, Kishan 54, Sharma 52 |
| New Zealand | 159 (19) | Seifert 52; Bumrah 4-15, Axar 3-27 |
Result: India wins by 96 runs.
