Abhishek Sharma plays a shot during the final cricket match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 between India and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (PTI Photo) Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson gave India an explosive start in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.The two openers added 98 runs for the first wicket to form the first 50-plus opening partnership in a Men’s T20 World Cup final. The previous highest opening score in the final was 48, scored by Kamran Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan for Pakistan against Sri Lanka at Lord’s Cricket Ground in 2009.
Extra trains and poojas: How India prepares for T20 World Cup final
Abhishek didn’t score many points earlier in the tournament but he came through in the final while Samson continued his form. Both the openers scored 92 runs in the power play, the highest power play score in any T20 World Cup match.Also See: India vs New Zealand Live Score T20 World Cup Final 2026
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Abhishek brought up his fifty in just 18 balls in the final over and was eventually dismissed on 52. Highest PP score in WC T2092/0 – IND vs NZ, Ahmedabad, 2026 Final92/1 – WI v AFG, Bridgetown, 202491/1 – NED vs IRE, Sylhet, 201489/3 – ENG vs SA, Mumbai WS, 201686/1 – IND vs NAM, Delhi, 2026WATCH LIVEEarlier, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to field.Ahead of the World Cup match, Dhoni and Rohit Sharma brought the T20 World Cup trophy onto the pitch to a loud response from the crowd.Dhoni led India to their first T20 World Cup title in 2007, while Rohit guided the side to their second title in 2024.New Zealand reached the final after defeating South Africa in the semi-finals. India secured a seven-run win over England in Mumbai to reach the final.In T20 World Cup matches between the two sides, New Zealand has the edge with wins in 2007, 2016 and 2021.India are chasing several milestones in the finals. The side aims to become the first host nation to win the T20 World Cup, the first team to defend the title and the first team to win the tournament three times.One of the challenges for New Zealand is to handle the Indian batting order and handle Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling.“I’m happy we’re batting first because we’re doing pretty well. It’s always good to have runs on the board in the semis or finals. Now it’s history, a new World Cup and we’re looking forward to it. It’s looking packed and it’s time to just bowl and hopefully give them a good show. Same team for us,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said.“We’re going to bowl first. It’s looking pretty good. We’ll see if that does anything and try to restrict them to a chaseable score. The lads are good. That’s why we’re playing. We’ve done it. A great opportunity, a semi-final and the lads will take confidence from it. This is the biggest stage and everyone’s ready. No, McConchie, Duffy is playing,” Santner said.India are playing in their fourth T20 World Cup final, the most by any team. Of the nine previous finals, six were won by a side fighter. Of the remaining three, India won two – in 2007 and 2024 – both in matches decided in the final.TeamsIndia (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.
