India successfully defends T20 World Cup title with a commanding victory over New Zealand.

India triumphed against New Zealand by 96 runs to retain the T20 World Cup championship in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner’s choice to bowl first was detrimental, as India amassed 255 runs for five wickets in their 20 overs.

India commenced vigorously, as openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson accumulated 98 runs in inside seven overs. Rachin Ravindra concluded the partnership on the initial delivery of the eighth over, dismissing Sharma for a rapid 52 runs off 21 balls, comprising six fours and three sixes.

Ishan Kishan subsequently partnered with Samson, maintaining the momentum by establishing a 105-run stand for the second wicket in merely 47 deliveries.

James Neesham removed both hitters in the 16th over. Samson achieved the highest score with 89 runs from 46 balls, including eight sixes and five fours, while Kishan contributed 54 runs from 25 balls, with four sixes and four fours.

Neesham dismissed Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for a golden duck in the same over, reducing India’s score to 204 for four.

Shivam Dube then provided a late flourish, remaining unbeaten on 26 off just eight balls, including three fours and two sixes.

In response, New Zealand could only accumulate 159 runs.

Tim Seifert achieved a half-century, while India’s Jasprit Bumrah secured four wickets and Axar Patel obtained three.

Squads:

India: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (Wicketkeeper), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (Captain), Jimmy Neesham, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson