Hello, welcome to the live coverage of the ICC T20 World Cup final match between India and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
A supremely talented and remarkably consistent Indian team will carry the nation’s hopes when they take on a resilient New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday – a contest that promises to be a classic David versus Goliath battle.
The venue still carries haunting memories of November 19, 2023, when Rohit Sharma slowly walked up the stairs to the dressing room after Australia crushed India’s dreams in the ODI World Cup final. The gigantic Motera amphitheater, packed with more than 93,000 spectators that night, fell into stunned silence as the home title bid ended in heartbreak.
That moment has remained ever since, though the Indian T20 side partially healed those wounds by winning the 2024 World Cup under Rohit Sharma in the West Indies.
Now under Suryakumar Yadav, India has an opportunity to write another historical chapter. The team will be aiming to become the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup and also the first to lift the trophy thrice.
For Suryakumar – a street-smart cricketer who embodies Mumbai’s fearless spirit – Sunday represents an opportunity not only to carve out his own legacy as a captain, but also to help erase the painful memories of that night in Ahmedabad in 2023.
Samson in limelight as India enjoy auspicious moments
Suryakumar’s team can take confidence from what happened almost exactly a year ago. On 9 March 2025, India defeated a similar New Zealand side in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, albeit in a 50-over format.
Although Suryakumar was not part of that team, the dominant victory could still serve as a source of inspiration.
Winning the final requires not only skill and courage, but also a touch of luck. It may not be a perfect game, but the decisive moments often decide the outcome.
India had one such moment in the semi-final when England’s Harry Brook dismissed Sanju Samson – a mistake that proved costly. The men in blue wouldn’t mind a few more lapses from the opposition in the final.
From a favorable schedule to comfortable venues and an overwhelming wave of support on social media and television, India enjoyed the rough of the green during the tournament.
If they win on Sunday, it will simply mean job done. But if they fall short, criticism could be swift and unforgiving.
New Zealand cannot be underestimated
Despite India’s strong lead, New Zealand remain a formidable opponent.
Under Suryakumar’s leadership in the last two years, India have played an aggressive brand of cricket. However, the captain himself does not always fire in decisive matches. The finale gives him the perfect scene to change that narrative.
A defining performance could instantly erase those doubts.
But standing in India’s way is one of cricket’s most respected and admired teams — New Zealand.
Players like Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry have proven time and time again that they can punch above their weight on the biggest stages.
The current New Zealand side may look familiar, but their collective bravery and composure make them a dangerous opponent. Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips, in particular, have built a reputation for thriving in high-pressure situations.
The Bumrah Factor
For the Black Caps, the biggest challenge could come from Jasprit Bumrah – the spearhead of India’s bowling attack.
Bumrah’s four overs could again prove decisive in the final, just as they did in India’s semi-final victory over England.
Traditionally deployed in the later stages of the innings, it will be interesting to see if India use him earlier to face the explosive Finn Allen, who hit a 33-ball knock in the semi-final.
Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya have generally taken the new ball but their length could offer scoring opportunities. Bumrah’s ability to swing the ball both ways early on could make life very difficult for the Kiwi openers.
Still, as Glenn Phillips recently pointed out, even the best have off days.
“Jasprit Bumrah is human too. He can have an off day like us,” Phillips said.
Concerns about Abhishek Sharma
Before the start of the tournament, Abhishek Sharma was one of the most talked about players in the Indian line-up thanks to his explosive batting.
However, his performances in the competition raised serious questions about his place in the playing XI.
His technical frailties have been exposed and if he turns up in the final, New Zealand could immediately deploy off-spinner Cole McConchie to exploit those vulnerabilities.
However, his drop would create a long middle order while Rinku Singh has also struggled for form.
Kuldeep option for Varun
Another worry for India was Varun Chakravarthy’s lack of influence.
The enigmatic element that once made him so effective seems to have disappeared, especially on good pitches where he struggled to disrupt batsmen.
Opponents have increasingly learned to treat his incoming deliveries as conventional off-breaks or cutters, and New Zealand’s right-side batting line-up has been able to capitalize on this.
In such a scenario, Kuldeep Yadav – who has played just one match in the tournament – could offer a better option, especially with Chakravarthy’s confidence looking low in the final.
Teams:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Mohammed Si.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Cole McConchie, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Devon Conway, Jimmy Neesham, Ish Sodhi.
