Ahmedabad, March 8 (NationPress) In a remarkable display of consistency, Sanju Samson achieved his third successive fifty-plus score, matching the legendary Virat Kohli in the T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

Samson made history by becoming just the third player to notch fifties in both the semi-final and final of a T20 World Cup, joining the ranks of Shahid Afridi (2009) and Virat Kohli (2014). The Indian wicketkeeper-batter skillfully navigated his innings alongside Abhishek Sharma, who provided an explosive half-century at the other end.

He reached his fifty off just 33 deliveries, demonstrating a measured approach that didn't require him to accelerate unnecessarily. While he started slowly, he kept the scoreboard moving before Abhishek ramped up the scoring, pushing India to 137 for 1 in just 11 overs.

India surged to 92 without losing a wicket in six overs, setting a new record for the Power-play in the T20 World Cup final. The previous record was held by the West Indies, who posted 92/1 against Afghanistan in 2024, while India’s previous best in the tournament history was 86/1 against Namibia in the same edition.

Abhishek led the charge with a stunning 52 runs off just 21 balls, achieving his half-century in merely 18 deliveries, making it the fastest fifty in this T20 World Cup.

India's innings started cautiously, accumulating only 12 runs in the first two overs, but the dynamics shifted dramatically as Abhishek and Sanju Samson unleashed a relentless assault on the New Zealand bowlers, amassing 80 runs in the final four overs of the Power-play.

Abhishek particularly targeted the seamers, stepping out to loft deliveries over the infield and punishing anything short with fierce pulls and cuts. His aggressive style pressured New Zealand, forcing frequent adjustments in their bowling strategy.

The impact was noticeable when Lockie Ferguson conceded 24 runs in a single over, marking one of the most costly overs in T20 World Cup final history. Abhishek continued his onslaught against Jacob Duffy, ultimately reaching his fifty with a pulled boundary, which brought the crowd and the Indian dugout to their feet.

While Abhishek dominated the innings, Samson provided solid support with a brisk 33 runs off 17 balls, with the duo registering the first-ever 50-plus opening partnership in a men's T20 World Cup final.

By the end of the Power-play, India had taken complete command of the match, setting the stage for an imposing total with one of the most explosive starts ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final.

Thanks to their aggressive batting, India crossed the 100-run threshold off the second ball of the eighth over, ultimately concluding their innings at 191/1 in 14 overs.