India's cricket team achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first side to win the T20 World Cup on home soil, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the team buried the ghosts of past disappointments and secured a record-breaking third T20 World Cup title in front of a sell-out crowd at the world's largest cricket venue.
The final was marked by India's dominant batting performance. Contributions from Sanju Samson (89 runs off 46 balls), Abhishek Sharma (52 runs off 21 balls), and Ishan Kishan (54 runs off 25 balls) propelled India to a total of 255-5 in 20 overs. This score stands as the highest ever in a T20 World Cup final, cementing India's third championship in the tournament's history.
New Zealand's chase was stifled by India's formidable bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah delivered a stellar performance with figures of 4-15 in his four overs, while Axar Patel took 3-27 in three overs, leading to New Zealand being bowled out for 159. Bumrah was named Player of the Final, and Samson received the Player of the Tournament award.
This victory holds significant weight for Indian cricket, as it comes after the heartbreak of losing the 50-over World Cup final at the same venue two years ago. For New Zealand, this marks their second defeat in T20 World Cup finals, highlighting ongoing challenges in clinching the title on the global stage.
Source: www.aljazeera.com