India will face New Zealand in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Sunday in Ahmedabad, with the hosts aiming to achieve several milestones in the tournament’s history.
The defending champions are looking to become the first team to defend the T20 World Cup title and also the first side to win the tournament three times. India won the previous edition in 2024 after defeating South Africa in the final.
India suffered a heavy defeat to South Africa on February 22 in a Super 8 match of the tournament, but recovered to win their remaining Super 8 matches and reach the semi-finals. They then defeated England in a close and high-scoring semi-final.
More than 100,000 spectators are expected at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the final.
While India will aim for another world title in front of a home crowd, New Zealand will look to win the trophy for the first time.
India enter the final as hosts and defending champions and have also recorded recent bilateral series wins against New Zealand. However, New Zealand hold a strong record against India in T20 World Cup matches, having won all three previous meetings between the teams in the tournament.
T20 World Cup 2007: New Zealand won by 10 runs in Johannesburg
In the first edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori delivered a strong all-round performance.
He took 4 for 20 and also scored 15 runs from five balls to help New Zealand defeat India during the group stage.
New Zealand had set a target of 191. India were 76 for 1 when Vettori came into the attack and dismissed Robin Uthappa and current India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who had scored 51 from 33 balls.
Spin bowling then tightened New Zealand’s control. Jeetan Patel dismissed Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni was run out for 24, and Vettori returned later to remove Irfan Pathan and Dinesh Karthik.
Earlier, Brendon McCullum scored 45 at the top of the order, while Craig McMillan and Jacob Oram added runs towards the end to take New Zealand to a total that India could not chase.
T20 World Cup 2016: New Zealand won by 47 runs in Nagpur
The two teams met again in the 2016 edition in Nagpur. New Zealand defended a total of 126 by bowling India out for 79, with three spinners taking nine wickets between them.
Corey Anderson scored 34 from 42 balls for New Zealand, while Luke Ronchi added 21 not out from 11 balls after coming in at number eight.
India struggled against spin bowling, with Virat Kohli scoring 23 and MS Dhoni making 30. When Ish Sodhi dismissed Kohli at 39 for 5 in the ninth over, India were already under pressure.
Dhoni was dismissed in the 18th over and Adam Milne then took the final wicket by removing Ashish Nehra three balls later.
Nathan McCullum finished with 2 for 15, Sodhi took 3 for 18 and Mitchell Santner returned figures of 4 for 11 along with scoring 18 runs. Milne was the only fast bowler to take a wicket in the match.
T20 World Cup 2021: New Zealand won by 8 wickets in Dubai
India and New Zealand met again in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. India scored 110 for 7, which New Zealand chased comfortably.
Trent Boult took a wicket in the powerplay and later picked up two more in the 19th over. Ish Sodhi returned figures of 2 for 17, Tim Southee took 1 for 26 and Adam Milne finished with 1 for 30.
Mitchell Santner did not take a wicket but bowled an economical spell of 0 for 15, including 11 dot balls.
In reply, Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell started the chase well. Mitchell scored 49 from 35 balls before being dismissed with New Zealand needing 15 runs. Captain Kane Williamson then finished the chase to seal the win.
Played: 3
New Zealand: 3
India: 0
India and New Zealand will now meet again in the final of the T20 World Cup on Sunday, March 8, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The two teams had also reached the final of the Champions Trophy in 2025, and nearly a year later they will again face each other in the final of an ICC tournament.
Get the latest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs ENG Live Score updates, including the full schedule, teams, points table, and key series stats such as top run-scorers and wicket-takers.
