Ahmedabad, March 9 (NationPress) New Zealand's skipper, Mitchell Santner, shared his sense of pride regarding his team’s remarkable journey throughout the T20 World Cup 2026, despite the setback in the final against co-hosts India. He acknowledged that they were bested by a formidable opponent in front of an enthusiastic home audience.

In his reflections, Santner commended his players for their resilience in facing various challenges and for their relentless effort at each stage of the tournament. He also recognized India for their outstanding performance and poise under the immense pressure of hosting a World Cup.

Key bowler Jasprit Bumrah delivered an impressive performance, securing 4 wickets for just 15 runs, as India made history by becoming the first team to successfully defend their title in the Men’s T20 World Cup, clinching the championship for a record third time after defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in front of a crowd of 86,824 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

"I’m proud of the boys for reaching this point. We faced numerous obstacles, but we put up a strong fight at every turn. Today, we were clearly outperformed by an exceptional team in a vibrant atmosphere. Witnessing a sea of blue made it evident that India had the home advantage. Competing in a home World Cup brings significant pressure, but SKY and the team should take immense pride in their efforts. Different players stepped up at various moments, and while we fought valiantly in the Super Eight and semi-finals, we were outclassed tonight," stated Mitchell Santner post-match.

Sanju Samson dazzled with a blistering 89 runs off 46 deliveries, featuring five fours and eight sixes, propelling India to a record total of 255/5—the highest score in a T20 World Cup final. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel (3-27) dismantled New Zealand’s batting order, leading to their dismissal for 159 runs in 19 overs, with only Tim Seifert providing notable resistance with a score of 52.

Samson, showcasing stellar form following scores of 97 not out and 89 in previous matches, formed a significant 98-run opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma (52 off 21 balls). Ishan Kishan contributed with 54 runs off 25 balls. Although James Neesham momentarily halted their momentum with three wickets in one over, Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 26 off 8 balls propelled India past the 250-mark.

India's bowlers were determined to avoid a repeat of the semi-final scare against England, quickly reducing New Zealand to 52/3 during the powerplay. This victory marked a significant milestone—India's first win over New Zealand in a T20 World Cup and their inaugural ICC white-ball triumph in Ahmedabad, overcoming previous defeats in the 2023 ODI final and earlier in this tournament.