New Zealand have now reached four World Cup finals of various formats since 2015 and lost them all, plus the Champions Trophy final, making their near-miss record one of sport’s more agonising stories. India added to that collection on Tuesday with a 96-run victory in the T20 World Cup final, retaining their title and becoming the first men’s team to defend it successfully. The gap between New Zealand’s endeavour and their achievement remains painfully wide.
India’s performance was, from start to finish, one of the finest in World Cup final history. Their powerplay of 92 for no loss equalled the all-time record, with Abhishek Sharma’s 18-ball fifty leading the charge. Sanju Samson then took over with a magnificent 89 off 46, and Ishan Kishan’s 54 off 25 maintained the required scoring rate at a level New Zealand’s bowlers couldn’t restrain.
The total of 255 was India’s third above 250 in the tournament, and the target required a near-perfect chase from New Zealand — something they were unable to deliver. Their top four combined for barely ten runs, and the required run rate climbed quickly to unreachable heights. Bumrah’s three wickets with slow yorkers sealed the result, and New Zealand were dismissed for 159.
Tim Seifert’s half-century and a couple of India fielding lapses — dropped catches from Dube and Pandya — extended the innings marginally, but the outcome was decided long before the final wicket fell. India’s margin of 96 runs told its own story about the quality gap between the two teams on the night.
New Zealand will regroup, and their character suggests they will return to another final in the years ahead. But on this night, they were beaten by a team operating at a level few sides have ever reached. India deserved everything they got, and they got everything.