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HISTORIC! INDIA FIRST TEAM TO WIN BACK TO BACK T20 WORLD CUPS

Sun, 08 March 2026

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22:56

India first team to win three T20 World Cups!!!

New Zealand 159-all out (19 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

A memorable night for the Indian cricket fans.

India are the first team to win back to back T20 World Cups
the first team to win three T20 World Cup titles.
the first team to win a T20 World Cup at home.

Jasprit Bumrah, with a four-wicket haul. now has the most wickets by a pace bowler in T20 World Cup with 40 wickets overall going past Lasith Malinga, who claimed 38 wickets.

Powered by a blazing 89 from Sanju Samson and explosive half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (52) and Ishan Kishan (54), India posted a massive 255/5 in their 20 overs after being put into bat -- the highest ever total in a T20 World Cup final.

Axar Patel (3/27) and Jasprit Bumrah (4/15) chipped away at the wickets as New Zealand never got going in the run chase and were bundled out for a lowly 159 in 19 overs on a flat pitch in Ahmedabad.

Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson join Rohit Sharma as the nine Indian players to be a part of two T20 World Cup winning teams.

22:45

HISTORIC! INDIA FIRST TEAM TO WIN BACK TO BACK T20 WORLD CUPS

New Zealand 159-all out (19 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Abhishek Sharma comes into the attack to bowl some part-time spin. Ferguson uses his feet but can only hit the first ball to long-on for a single and Duffy gets the next to long-off for one.

Ferguson swings hard but just for another run as the ball falls just short of long-on.

Duffy chips the fourth ball back over the bowler's head for just a single followed by another run to his partner.

The match ends as Duffy is caught at long-on off the last ball of the over.

India send New Zealand packing for 159 to win by a huge margin of 96 runs.

22:41

Bumrah takes 4; India inch closer to victory

New Zealand 154-9 (18 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Arshdeep continues as India stand two wickets away from their third T20 World Cup.

The Indians are charging towards a huge victory in the final. Santner manages a single and Ferguson also does the same.

Santner inside edges a full toss for a boundary on the leg side followed by a wide and keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Bumrah to bowl his fourth and final over. He beats Santner with a wide yorker before he taps the next to the fielder at point.

Bumrah bags his fourth wicket as he cleans up Santner with an inch perfect slower ball yorker. Santner has a big swing across the line but fails to connect and is bowled after scoring 43 from 35 balls.

Bumrah gives away just two runs in the 18th over. He finishes with superb figures of 4/13 from his four overs -- the best figures by a pace bowler in a T20 World Cup final.

India just one wicket away from their third T20 World Cup title.

22:32

Bumrah takes 3; India inch closer to victory

New Zealand 143-8 (16 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Bumrah is back into the attack. Once again the slower ball does the trick as Neesham swings too early only to miss the low full toss and is bowled for 8.

Bumrah strikes again next ball as Matt Henry is bowled for a first-ball duck. Henry made room but he is also deceived by the slower ball which crashes into the stumps.

Lockie Ferguson denies Bumrah the hat-trick as he defends a full delivery with utmost caution for a single to point.

Santner keeps strike with one from the last ball as Bumrah concedes just four runs from his third over.

22:26

Axar takes 3; India set for big win

New Zealand 139-6 (15 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Hardik has a confident shout for leg before turned down after Santner is hit on the pads by a full delivery.

India take the DRS but the ball has pitched outside the line of leg stump as the review goes New Zealand's way.

Santner pulls the second ball for a single followed by a wide. Singles off the last four balls as Hardik concedes six runs in his final over, to finish with 1/36 in four overs.

Arshdeep back into the attack. Santner is beaten by the slower ball before he is hit on the pads next ball and he gets a single on the leg side.

Neesham misses the sweep off a wide down the leg side followed by another wide on the off-side before he clips the next through midwicket for two runs and can only keep out the yorker.

New Zealand are 139/6 in 15 overs, needing another 117 for victory in five overs.

22:10

Axar takes 3; India set for big win

New Zealand 128-6 (13 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Axar misses out on a wicket. Santner cuts the first ball straight to Hardik at point, who puts down an easy catch, looking to celebrate before getting the ball under control.

The next ball is again hit towards Hardik, who lets the ball go through for a four.

Axar strikes a couple of balls later as Mitchell holes out to Kishan at deep midwicket to fall for 17.

James Neesham sweeps the last ball for a boundary to get off the mark.

22:07

NZ 5 down; India set for big win

New Zealand 119-5 (12 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Arshdeep comes back into the attack. Mitchell swings the pacer over the leg side as Kishan takes a high catch but ends up crossing the boundary to concede a six.

Mitchell then launches the next ball bang off the middle over midwicket for a huge six before Arshdeep under pressure bowls a wide.

A controversial moment as Arshdeep stops the ball on his follow through and his throw at the striker's end hits the batter Mitchell.

Mitchell is furious at Arshdeep for that poor throw which hit him on the body. The umpires have a chat with the young pacer while captain Suryakumar calms down the Kiwi batter.

All is well at the end, as Mitchell and Arshdeep shake hands at the end of the over.

Chakravarthy comes back into the attack. Santner goes after the leg-spinner with back to back sixes over long-off and long-on as the Kiwi skipper fights hard to keep his team alive.

21:55

NZ 5 down; India set for big win

New Zealand 88-5 (10 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Hardik starts his new over with a bouncer as Santner ducks under before he clips the next off his pads for two runs followed by a single.

Daryl Mitchell punches the fourth ball to sweeper cover for one and Santner can only manage a single from the last ball.

New Zealand struggling on 88/5 in 10 overs at the halfway mark. They need another 168 runs from the last 10 overs for victory at an asking rate of nearly 17.

Once India posted a huge 255/5, there was no way back for the Kiwis and losing early wickets only made it worse.

21:50

NZ 5 down; India set for big win

New Zealand 83-5 (9 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Chakravarthy gets revenge with the wicket of Seifert, who had hit him for two sixes in his first over.

Seifert fails to middle the pull shot off a half-tracker with Kishan taking another brilliant catch at deep midwicket, on the edge of the boundary. He lobbed the ball up after taking the catch thinking he would cross over but he stays inside and completes the catch on the second attempt.

New Zealand's hopes are all but finished as they slip to 72/5 in the ninth over with Seifert walking back after scoring 52 from 26 balls.

A beautiful googly from Chakravarthy which beats new batter Mitchell Santner on the outside edge with the ball going over the stumps and beating wicketkeeper Samson for four byes.

Santner then slaps a short wide delivery behind point for a boundary and gets three runs off the last ball, hitting it wide of long-off.

21:46

Hardik strikes; New Zealand 4 down

New Zealand 72-4 (8 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Hardik comes back into the attack. He dents New Zealand further with the wicket of Mark Chapman, who is bowled off an inside edge after a struggling knock of three from eight balls.

New Zealand sink further to 70/4 in the eighth over.

21:42

NZ struggle after early wickets

New Zealand 68-3 (7 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Varun Chakravarthy comes into the attack as he seeks to get rediscover his bowling form.

He makes a decent start, conceding just two singles from the first three balls.

Seifert then hammers the fourth ball over long-on for a six and clips the next towards midwicket for two runs.

He lofts the last ball for another six over midwicket to race past 50 from just 23 balls.

21:36

Axar leaves NZ in a mess

New Zealand 52-3 (6 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Bumrah to bowl his second over in the Powerplay. Seifert takes a single first ball before Chapman comes down but can only defend the yorker.

He gets a thick outside edge looking to flick it over midwicket but the ball flies in the other direction, falling just short of Varma rushing it from thirdman.

Seifert misses out on a high full toss as Bumrah slows his pace with the Kiwi pacer inside edging it on to his pads.

Seifert gets the pull shot off the inside half for two runs to take India past 50 before he takes one off the last ball.

Excellent bowling by Bumrah, giving away nine runs in two overs, with New Zealand struggling on 52/3 in six overs.

21:32

Axar leaves New Zealand in a mess

New Zealand 47-3 (5 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Axar continues as Seifert swings the first ball over midwicket for a six. He takes a single next ball before Glenn Phillips lofts the third ball over mid-on for a four.

Axar strikes again as cleans up Phillips, who swings hard but misses the arm ball which skis straight on to hit the leg stump.

New Zealand slip to 47/3 in the fifth over.

Mark Chapman defends the last ball back to the bowler.

21:26

Bumrah strikes; New Zealand in trouble

New Zealand 36-2 (4 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Jasprit Bumrah strikes with his first ball of the match. Once again the slower ball does the track as Ravindra miscues the flick and skies the ball high. Kishan completes a stunning catch rushing in from the deep square leg boundary and dives forward to take it inches from the ground.

New Zealand in early trouble on 32/2 in the fourth over.

Glenn Phillips gets off the mark with a single before Seifert carves the next ball over the off-side for two runs.

He gets an under-edge next ball which bounces close to the stumps before he gently clips a full toss for a single.

21:21

Axar strikes; Allen out for 9

New Zealand 32-1 (3 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Interesting move from India as they introduce spinner Axar Patel to bowl the third over.

Allen pulls the first ball on the bounce to deep midwicket for one and Seifert clips the next off his pads for another run.

Allen muscles the third ball straight back past the non-striker for a straight boundary.

However Axar gets revenge as Allen mishits the pull shot to Varma at wide long-on to be dismissed for nine.

Rachin Ravindra sweeps the fifth ball for a single and Seifert inside edges the last ball.

21:15

New Zealand off to a quickfire start

New Zealand 25-0 (2 ovs) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Hardik Pandya from the other end. Allen walks across a long way but fails to execute the scoop cleanly, swiping it to right of backward square leg for just a single.

Seifert finally gets going as he swings the length ball from Hardik powerfully over midwicket for a huge six.

Seifert walks across his stumps a long way and scoops Hardik all the way over fine leg for another six.

The right-hander then drills the fifth ball wide of the fielder at mid-off for a four.

He hammers the last ball powerfully past Hardik for another boundary to get 21 runs from the over.

21:10

Samson, Abhishek, Kishan power India to 255

New Zealand 4-0 (1 ov) vs India 255-5 | SCORECARD

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh to open the bowling for India. New Zealand will once again need their opening duo of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen to dominate in the Powerplay, like they did against South Africa in the semis.

New Zealand would want to make most of the Powerplay and look to score around 75 in the first six overs.

The first ball is pitched up as it swings in the air and Seifert pushes it to the fielder at mid-off.

The next ball is on length and angled across as Seifert has a big swing and is beaten. The third ball swings in sharply and strikes the right-hander on the boots as he misses the flick, to collect a leg bye.

Finn Allen flicks the fourth ball to the fielder at midwicket. He skies the next ball high looking to loft Arshdeep down the ground.

However, Dube tracking back from mid-off fails to judge the catch cleanly to miss out on the big wicket of Allen.

This is the 15th dropped catch by Indian in this T20 World Cup -- the most by an team in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.

Allen pushes the last ball down to mid-off for a single as Arshdeep gives away just four runs in the opening over.

20:47

Samson, Abhishek, Kishan power India to 255

Sanju Samson

India 255-5 (20 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Neesham to bowl the final over. Shivam Dube mistimes the lofted shot but Santner running back from mid-off can't get to the ball which hits his body and goes through for a four.

The next ball is on length as Dube swings it over midwicket for a six.

Dube reviving India after a slight hiccup. He goes inside out to smash Neesham over the covers for another six.

Neesham goes short as Dube pulls it over short fine leg for a four to take India past 250-run mark.

Dube swings and misses the fifth ball before he slaps the last ball over the covers for a four, to get 24 from the final over.

India finish on a massive 255/5 in their 20 overs. Dube has played a vital cameo of 26 from eight balls to boost India in the final over.

This is the highest ever total in a T20 World cup final and the third highest ever in a T20 International.

New Zealand's batting line-up face an mighty task in the run chase!

20:38

Hardik out for 18; India 5 down

India 231-5 (19 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Henry to bowl the penultimate over. He starts with a full toss as Hardik swings it over midwicket for a six despite not getting it off the middle.

However, Henry gets revenge next ball as Hardik top edges the heave and is caught at mid-off.

Hardik struggled to pull off the big hits, falling for a sedate 18 from 13 balls, with just one six and a four.

Singles off the next three before Varma mistimes the lofted shot which falls just short of long-on for two runs.

New Zealand have made a good comeback by chipping away at the wickets.

India looked on course for a 275-run total at one stage but have stumbled in last few overs, losing four wickets for 28 runs from the last four overs

20:32

India lose 3 wickets in 16th over!

India 220-4 (18 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Neesham to bowl the 18th over. Hardik Pandya hits the first ball to the fielder at mid-off before he pulls the next to deep midwicket for a single.

Varma picks one before Hardik gets a thick inside edge trying to hit the ball too hard.

However, he makes good connection pulling the short ball from Neesham over midwicket for a six beating a flying Glenn Phillips, who flings himself to his left but can't get to the ball.

Hardik slaps the last ball for a single to long-off as nine come from the 18th over.

20:29

India lose 3 wickets in 16th over!

India 211-4 (17 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Pacer Jacob Duffy back into the attack. Nearly another wicket as Tilak Varma cuts it straight to point where Finn Allen puts down the catch and is struck on the thumb.

Pandya pulls the third ball for a single before Varma fails to middle the pull shot for a couple of runs followed by singles off the last two balls.

Duffy gives away just seven runs in the 17th over as New Zealand make a spirited comeback, conceding just eight runs from the last two overs while picking up three wickets, most importantly not conceding a single boundary in both overs.

20:22

Suryakumar out for duck; India lose 3 wickets in 16th over!

India 204-4 (16 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Some relief for New Zealand as Neesham strikes with the big wicket of the in-form Samson.

He fails to time the full toss, hitting it straight back but fails to clear the boundary with substitute McConchie taking a fine running catch at long-on.

Samson misses out on a deserved century as he walks back to a huge ovation, after a stunning knock of 89 from 46 balls, with eight sixes and five fours.

Samson put India on course for a massive total, putting on 105 from 48 balls for the second wicket with Kishan.

Hardik Pandya gets a promotion to No 4 ahead of Suryakumar Yadav. He plays two dots in a row before taking a single to get off the mark.

Neesham strikes again with another full toss as Kishan mistimes the lofted shot, getting it off the toe end and is caught at long-on.

Kishan has done his job to perfection, stroking an entertaining 54 from 25 balls, with four sixes and as many fours.

New Zealand fight back with two wickets in the space of five balls.

The wickets continue to tumble. Suryakumar Yadav falls for a first-ball duck as he top edges the pull shot and Rachin Ravindra takes a fine running catch.

Three wickets in a single over from Neesham as India slip to 204/4 in 16 overs.

20:15

Samson, Kishan slam 50s; India race past 200

India 203-1 (15 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Santner comes back to bowl his fourth and final over. Kishan swings the second ball over midwicket for a six before he attempts the reverse but fails to connect.

He drives the fourth ball down to long-on for a single to race to his fifty from 23 balls.

That run also raises the 100-run stand for the second wicket from just 45 balls as India continue to dominate.

He lofts the last ball back over the bowler's head as India race past 200, in the 15th over.

20:09

India Dominate: Samson, Kishan on fire!

Ishan Kishan

India 191-1 (14 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Henry back from the other end. The ball continues to fly over the ropes as Kishan heaves the slower ball from the pacer, clearing midwicket by a long way for a six.

Singles from the last four balls as 10 runs come from Henry's third over.

Spinner Ravindra back into the attack. Samson launches a full delivery straight down the ground for a six and pulls the next ball over midwicket for the same result.

He looks on course for a century in a World Cup final, having smashed his way to 82 from 43 balls.

Samson completes a hat-trick of sixes as he plays an incredible inside out shot, hitting it wide of long-off.

India have smashed their way to 191/1 in 14 overs at a run rate of more than 13.

Samson has smashed 88 from 44 balls, while Kishan has hit 43 from 19 balls, with both striking at over 200.

20:01

Samson hits fifty as India dominate

India 161-1 (12 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Ferguson back into the attack as Samson goes after the Kiwi pacer. He pulls the first ball over midwicket for a six.

Ferguson adjusts his length and goes full and this time Samson lofts it straight back over the bowler's head for another six.

He takes a single before Kishan hammers the fourth ball over long-on for the third six of the over.

Samson flat bats the length ball from Ferguson over the fielder at mid-off for a boundary to get 24 from the over.

A horror outing with the ball for Ferguson, having conceded 48 from his two overs.

19:56

Samson hits fifty as India dominate

India 137-1 (11 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Kishan showing his prowess with the bat, as he slog sweeps Santner powerfully over midwicket for a six.

Samson takes a single off the last ball to complete his fifty from 33 balls -- his third in a row in the T20 World Cup.

While Abhishek went ballistic in the Powerplay, Samson was content to play second fiddle but has still gone has at a strike rate of more than 160.

He becomes only the third batter to hit a fifty in both the semi-final and the final of the T20 World Cup.

19:53

India in control after good start

India 127-1 (10 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

India not taking any chances against Santner, not wanting to throw away the initiative after a good start.

Santner keeping things tight as he concedes just five singles in his second over.

Despite India scoring at more than 12 per over Santner has been miserly, giving away just 11 runs in his two overs.

James Neesham comes into the attack. Samson goes after a full wide delivery but gets it off the outside edge over point for two runs.

The next ball is a yorker just outside the off-stump as Samson does well to open the face of the bat at the very last second to guide it fine on the off-side for a four and takes one off the next.

Kishan looking in ominous touch. He powerfully cuts a short wide delivery past the fielder at point, who dives over the ball, for a four.

Kishan takes a single before Samson is beaten by a wide yorker.

India race to 127/1 in 10 overs at the halfway mark with Samson on 48 from 30 balls and Kishan on 19 from nine balls.

19:45

Abhishek out for 21-ball 52

India 110-1 (8 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Rachin Ravindra comes into the attack. He strikes first ball with the big wicket of the dangerous Abhishek, who throws his bat at a wide half-volley but gets the edge and is caught behind.

Abhishek walks back to a standing ovation after a blistering 52 from 21 balls, having put on 98 runs for the opening wicket from just 43 balls with Samson.

Ishan Kishan times the first ball he faces to perfection, hitting Ravindra down to long-on where the fielder makes a diving stop to keep it down to two runs.

He slaps the next ball square on the off-side for another couple of runs before he flicks the full delivery through midwicket for a four.

The last ball is carved perfectly in the gap between point and short thirdman for another boundary to get 12 from the over.

19:40

Abhishek slams 18-ball fifty!

India 98-0 (7 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Mitchell Santner comes into the attack with New Zealand needing their captain to get them back with a wicket or two.

Samson defends the first ball before he is beaten next ball trying to cut and he blocks the third into the off-side.

Santner goes wide as Samson cuts it past point for a four and takes a single to long-on and Abhishek takes one off the last ball.

Tidy start from Santner under the circumstances as he gives away just six runs in his first over.

19:34

Abhishek Sharma slams 18-ball fifty!

Abhishek Sharma

India 92-0 (5 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Duffy back into the attack. Abhishek comes down the track but can only edge the full toss between the wicketkeeper and the slip fielder for a four.

Another full toss which Abhishek eases straight back over the bowler's head for a six.

He then miscues the pull shot high on the side as the fielder at square runs back but can't get to the ball which rolls over for a four.

Another top edged pull shot which lands safely beyond the fielder at square leg for two runs.

He walks across his stumps to flick Duffy over midwicket for a four to race to his fifty from just 18 balls.

India have smashed their way to 92 for no loss in six overs in the Powerplay.

Abhishek has bounced back to form, smashing 51 from 19 balls, while Samson has hit 33 from 17 balls.

The two openers combined have hit eight fours and six sixes in the Powerplay.

New Zealand's pacers struggled with their control, giving away eight wides in the Powerplay.

19:28

Samson, Abhishek give India flying start

India 72-0 (5 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Matt Henry is back into the attack with New Zealand desperate for a breakthrough.

He is also feeling the pressure starting with two wides in a row to Abhishek as the change of pace not working for the Kiwi speedsters.

Abhishek cuts the length ball angled across to deep point for one followed by another wide.

Samson plays a controlled pull shot to deep midwicket for a single before Henry bowls another wide trying to keep it away from Abhishek.

The slower balls becoming predictable as Abhishek goes across and hammers the slower ball straight down the ground for a six over long-off.

He takes a single through the off-side before Samson pulls the fifth ball to deep midwicket for two runs,

Samson on the charge as he pulls the last ball over midwicket to clear the fence for another six.

Henry also suffers as he gives away 21 runs in his second over.

India race to 72 for no loss in five overs with 45 coming from the last two overs.

19:21

Openers on fire; India race past 50

India 51-0 (4 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Another bowling change as Lockie Ferguson comes into the attack. Abhishek comes down the track and makes room, looking to hit over the top but it goes off the outside half over the vacant slip region for a four.

The next ball is on length and this time the left-hander lofts it over long-off for a six and he taps the third ball to point for a single, to race to 23 from 10 balls.

Ferguson bowls a wide before Samson gets a thick fat leading edge looking to flick the full ball which flies over thirdman for a six.

Ferguson bowls two successive wides down the leg side, missing his radar with the slower ball.

Ferguson again strays down the leg side as Samson easily glances it past short fine leg for a four.

Ferguson goes for 24 in his first over as India race past 50 in the fourth over.

19:21

Openers on fire; India race past 50

India 51-0 (4 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

The next ball is on length and this time the left-hander lofts it over long-off for a six and he taps the third ball to point for a single, to race to 23 from 10 balls.

Ferguson bowls a wide before Samson gets a thick fat leading edge looking to flick the full ball which flies over thirdman for a six.

Ferguson bowls two successive wides down the leg side, missing his radar with the slower ball.

Ferguson again strays down the leg side as Samson easily glances it past short fine leg for a four.

Ferguson goes for 24 in his first over as India race past 50 in the fourth over.

19:15

India off to a quick start vs New Zealand

Sanju Samson

India 27-0 (3 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Pacer Jacob Duffy into the attack. Samson clips the first ball off his pads for a single and Abhishek comes down the track but offers no shot to the back of the length ball slanted across which is ruled a wide.

Abhishek gets going as he flicks the full delivery over midwicket for a four.

Duffy goes full again as Abhishek lofts the next ball straight down the ground for another boundary.

The left-hander pulls the short ball but fails to time the shot with Glenn Phillips charging in from deep square leg with the ball falling just short and he does well to stop it on the half-volley.

Samson looks to swipe the length ball across the line but gets it off the inside half. He lofts the last ball back over the bowler's head for the third boundary of the over as Duffy goes for 15 in his first over.

19:10

India off to a watchful start vs New Zealand

India 12-0 (2 ovs) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Glenn Phillips to take the new ball from the other end. Samson pushes the first ball down to long-on for a single.

Abhishek pushes the second ball to the fielder in the covers and defends the next with utmost caution, with bat and pad close to each other.

He hits the fourth ball to long-off for a single to get off the mark from the third ball.

Samson again easily collects a single down to long-on and Abhishek drives the last ball through the covers but Daryl Mitchell running to his right at long-off puts in the dive to save the boundary.

19:05

New Zealand elect to bowl; India unchanged

India 5-0 (1 ov) vs New Zealand | SCORECARD

Sanju Samson walks out to open the batting with Abhishek Sharma, who must consider himself lucky to be retained for the final despite his poor showing with the bat.

Pacer Matt Henry starts with the ball for New Zealand. Samson backs away slightly but can only defend the full ball with soft hands back to the bowler.

The next ball is full and swings into Samson, who is struck on the pads after missing the flick but the leg before shout is turned down.

The India opener pushes the third ball to the fielder at point and drives the fourth ball, again pitched up, to the fielder at mid-on for the fourth dot ball in a row.

Samson gets off the mark in cracking fashion, lofting the fifth ball over the fielder at mid-on for a boundary and keeps strike with a single from the last ball.

18:45

India retain struggling Varun, Abhishek

Huge call by India to continue with their struggling duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Abhishek Sharma.

Chakravarthy has struggled in the last four matches, while Abhishek has been a big disappointment throughout the T20 World Cup. This is really harsh on Kuldeep Yadav, who doesn't get to play despite Chakravarthy not faring well with the ball in the last few games.

Interestingly, New Zealand have dropped off-spinner Cole McConchie while bringing in pacer Jacob Duffy.

Check out the playing XIs:

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (w/k), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.

New Zealand: Tim Seifert (w/k), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (Captain), Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.

18:39

New Zealand elect to bowl; India unchanged

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

'We will try and restrict them to a chaseable score,' says Santner at the toss.

New Zealand have made one change as pacer Jacob Duffy replaces Cole McConchie.

Meanwhile, India have fielded the same playing XI.

'We are happy to bat first since we have done well batting first in this World Cup, it is good put up runs on the board in the semis or the final,' says Suryakumar Yadav at the toss.

18:12

T20 World Cup Final: Ahmedabad Turns Into A Pressure Cooker

Superstition is likely to rule the day with many believing that a small movement could result in the fall of a wicket, says K R Nayar from the Narendra Modi stadium.

During the pre-match press conference, both captains were asked about pressure on them before the final. Since there are no reference books, their responses were repetitive.

Today, the city is like a pressure cooker, with fans who would act like the whistle.

Superstition is also likely to rule the day with many believing that a small movement could result in the fall of a wicket, even though they may know that sitting long without movement can be more dangerous than smoking.

I wonder whether anyone would go to the extent of even refusing to change his breathing pattern once his team starts doing well.

Since there have been so many instances of people not moving from a seat, it is time someone considered standing throughout the entire innings as a healthy superstition.

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18:09

Anti-Drone, Bomb Squads Guard T20 World Cup Final

As cricket fans started thronging the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the India vs New Zealand T20 World Cup final on Sunday, an elaborate security blanket covered the venue to ensure the high-stakes clash unfolded safely.

For the first time during the match, holding areas have been created near Gates 1 and 2 as a precautionary measure to avoid any risk of a stampede, officials said.

"As part of bandobast, around 3,000 police personnel and around 1,000 home guards have been deployed. This time, we have created holding areas at Gate No. 1 and 2 near the main road to prevent any possibility of a stampede. We are implementing this for the first time during the match," Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik said.

The police are also using three anti-drone systems and eight bomb detection and disposal squad (BDDS) teams have been deployed as part of the comprehensive security at the stadium, Malik said.

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18:05

History-chasing India face plucky New Zealand

Team India

Welcome to the coverage of the ICC T20 World Cup Final between India and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

India head into Sunday's T20 World Cup final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, seeking to create history by becoming the first team to successfully defend the T20 World title.

Believe it or not! India has never beaten New Zealand in T20 World Cups -- losing all three games played in 2007, 2016 and 2021.

India will feel on top of the world after their commanding batting performance against England in the semi-finals while their experienced pacers came up trumps in the closing stages of a high-scoring game.

New Zealand would be all fired up after their thumping victory against South Africa in the semi-finals. The explosive Finn Allen will pose a big threat for the Indian bowlers after his record-breaking 33-ball century against South Africa. His opening partner Tim Seifert is equally destructive in the Powerplay, having amassed 274 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 161.17 with three fifties.

Glenn Phillips is another dangerman with the bat with his ability to hit the spinners out of the park, while they also have a lot of capable batting options in the lower order including Mitchell Santner, James Neesham and Cole McConchie.

Captain Santner will play a big role with the ball as well in keeping things in check in the middle overs, boasting of an impressive career economy rate of 7.21 for 137 wickets in 134 T20Is.

A big surprise has been the performance from Rachin Ravindra with the ball, with his part-time spin fetching him 11 wickets from eight games, including nine in the last three games against Sri Lanka, England and South Africa.

Matt Henry, with his ability to strike early wickets with the new ball, will be the one to watch out for as far as the Indian openers are concerned.

Overall, India enjoy a positive head to head record against New Zealand with 18 wins from 30 matches. However, the big positive for the Kiwis is that they have won all three T20 World Cup matches played against the Indians.

HISTORIC! INDIA FIRST TEAM TO WIN BACK TO BACK T20 WORLD CUPS

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