India clinched a historic third T20 World Cup title with a commanding win over New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Standout performances underlined India’s dominance, especially Sanju Samson’s remarkable run through the knockout stages.

But the final has also sparked debate. Was the batting-friendly pitch worthy of a World Cup summit clash? Should curators shape conditions to produce high-scoring spectacles, or does that undermine the balance between bat and ball? And how does Ahmedabad compare with iconic Indian venues like Wankhede or Eden Gardens when it comes to hosting cricket’s biggest matches?

EDITORIAL | ​Broad base: On India and the ICC T20 World Cup win

In this episode of In Focus, veteran cricket journalist Pradeep Magazine talks about India’s dominant campaign, the controversy around pitch preparation and the legacy of this champion side in the evolving landscape of world cricket.

Host: Reuben Joe Joseph

Guest: Pradeep Magazine, veteran cricket journalist and author

Edited by Sharada Venkatasubramnian

Listen to more In Focus podcasts:

Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand captain, admitted that the PowerPlay overs in both the essays proved decisive during his team’s annihilation by India in the ICC T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad on Sunday (March 8, 2026).

“I think the tale of the day was the two PowerPlays. They were 90 for none (92 without loss) and we were three for 40 (52 for three),” Santner said. “When you come up against a very good team in a final, you always want to do well. We obviously know that we weren’t at our best. If you aren’t at your best against a very good team, you are going to be exposed, and that’s what happened tonight (Sunday),” the skipper added.

While India openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma took their time to get going – scoring just 12 off the first two overs before going berserk to add 80 more in the next four overs – New Zealand contributed handsomely to the host’s cause by bowling wide of the stumps way too early in the innings.

“Credit to Sanju and Abhishek at the top to get 90 (92) off the PowerPlay,” Santner said. “It’s pretty tough from there (to come back). It was a pretty good pitch throughout. There wasn’t much for the bowlers. The cutters weren’t really holding, there was not much spin. Either way you look at it, if we could have got a couple (of wickets) in the PowerPlay, squeezed them a little bit through the middle, 220 could have been chased down on a very good pitch”.

Great teams have an air of inevitability when it comes to success. The Men in Blue, specifically in T20Is, exude that aura. The West Indies, cutting across formats in the 1970s and ’80s, and its successor Australia, all had this swagger backed by performance.

When Suryakumar Yadav’s men claimed the ICC T20 World Cup at New Zealand’s expense at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, it seemed preordained. Such was India’s dominance. The host retained the title, previously won in 2024, and tided past the pressure of playing in the backyard as soaring expectations could at times choke.

Including the latest conquest, cutting across ODIs and T20Is, India has won five World Cups, and three Champions Trophies. Additionally, nine Asia Cups and the 1985 World Championship of Cricket in Australia, were all secured. This triumphant run commenced in 1983 when Kapil Dev held aloft the World Cup at Lord’s.

Yet, consistency in winning global trophies started only in 2024 as two T20 World Cups and a Champions Trophy have been seized since then. The latest successful effort was mounted on muscular batting and a bowling that had Jasprit Bumrah to step up all the time.

Jasprit Bumrah was the go-to bowler for Suryakumar Yadav.
| Photo Credit:
Emmanual Yogini

That India would get through the group stages and enter the Super Eight was a foregone conclusion. The more difficult part was in sustaining form in the knockout phase. Yes, the clash against Pakistan at Colombo had its own set of difficulties, primarily off the field due to complicated diplomacy and historical angst.

But in all these encounters, India prevailed. South Africa offered a reality check, just like it did during the 2011 50-over World Cup. But then and now, the host moved ahead. This was a campaign in which opener Abhishek Sharma struggled for a large part despite two fifties, with one coming in the final. And Varun Chakaravarthy, who along with Bumrah, finished as the highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps each, had his lukewarm days too.

Sanju Samson was in smashing form in the crunch games.
| Photo Credit:
Emmanual Yogini

But India always marched on. Sanju Samson’s comeback atop the batting tree and his three consecutive 80-plus scores in the last three games, ensured that opening blues were no longer an issue. Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube, all flexed their bats. Hardik Pandya, at times with runs, crucial wickets and bustling energy on the field, was critical to India’s propulsion.

That men like Kishan and Axar Patel, would also be remembered for their fielding, is a reflection of how India ticked most of the boxes. India in the blue shade is in the ascendant.

Hopefully there would be success in Tests too, an attribute that went missing as New Zealand and South Africa came visiting and left with series triumphs. It is one aspect that coach Gautam Gambhir has to address.

Jammu and Kashmir winning the Ranji Trophy is another clue to how cricket’s roots have spread wide, and India is bound to benefit, even as the Indian Premier League saunters into view.

Will the Indian cricket team repeat history? Will it defeat history? No men’s team has won the ICC T20 World Cup back-to-back and no host nation has won the title in its own backyard. Standing against them and trying to prevent them from repeating and defeating history is New Zealand.

A team that has beaten India every single time in the T20 World Cup. A team that has beaten them in the final of the ICC World Test Championship.

A team that may not be big, as far as cricketing superstars are concerned, but almost always ends up in the knockout stages of an ICC tournament. A team that enjoys being away from the spotlight. A team that doesn’t fear any opponent.

The advantage of having been in India prior to the tournament was a smart move and that is paying dividends. The Kiwis got used to the format in the five-match T20I series. Finn Allen and Tim Seifert joined the team at some point and suddenly, New Zealand went from losing wickets in the PowerPlay to unleashing their power-hitting.

There have been some great innings in this World Cup, including the two brilliant ones from Sanju Samson’s blade, but it’s hard to think beyond the century off 33 deliveries by Allen. That opening partnership and their battle with Jasprit Bumrah is going to be the key when New Zealand decide whether to bat first or chase. Couple of areas where they can get better is the promotion of Daryl Mitchell in the batting order and the use of the fifth bowler.

India had a close shave against England after Jacob Bethell played an innings for the ages. Their batting looks good, as can be seen by the 250-plus runs they posted against England. It’s the bowling that is the worry, as England came within a whisker of overhauling the Indian total.

They have a problem with Varun Chakaravarthy being clobbered for runs from the Super Eight stage. He looks down on confidence. Will they take a bold call and include Kuldeep Yadav for the longer boundaries in Ahmedabad?

With Abhishek Sharma unable or unwilling to change his approach and holing out in the deep in the PowerPlay itself, will they push Ishan Kishan to open the batting?

If they do, it could go exactly as it was in the Asia Cup final last year, with Rinku Singh being in the spotlight in the crunch. ‘God’s Plan’, as the ink on his arm says.

Will the Indian cricket team repeat history? Will it defeat history? No men’s team has won the ICC T20 World Cup back-to-back and no host nation has won the title in its own backyard. Standing against them and trying to prevent them from repeating and defeating history is New Zealand.

A team that has beaten India every single time in the T20 World Cup. A team that has beaten them in the final of the ICC World Test Championship.

A team that may not be big, as far as cricketing superstars are concerned, but almost always ends up in the knockout stages of an ICC tournament. A team that enjoys being away from the spotlight. A team that doesn’t fear any opponent.

The advantage of having been in India prior to the tournament was a smart move and that is paying dividends. The Kiwis got used to the format in the five-match T20I series. Finn Allen and Tim Seifert joined the team at some point and suddenly, New Zealand went from losing wickets in the PowerPlay to unleashing their power-hitting.

There have been some great innings in this World Cup, including the two brilliant ones from Sanju Samson’s blade, but it’s hard to think beyond the century off 33 deliveries by Allen. That opening partnership and their battle with Jasprit Bumrah is going to be the key when New Zealand decide whether to bat first or chase. Couple of areas where they can get better is the promotion of Daryl Mitchell in the batting order and the use of the fifth bowler.

India had a close shave against England after Jacob Bethell played an innings for the ages. Their batting looks good, as can be seen by the 250-plus runs they posted against England. It’s the bowling that is the worry, as England came within a whisker of overhauling the Indian total.

They have a problem with Varun Chakaravarthy being clobbered for runs from the Super Eight stage. He looks down on confidence. Will they take a bold call and include Kuldeep Yadav for the longer boundaries in Ahmedabad?

With Abhishek Sharma unable or unwilling to change his approach and holing out in the deep in the PowerPlay itself, will they push Ishan Kishan to open the batting ?

If they do, it could go exactly as it was in the Asia Cup final last year, with Rinku Singh being in the spotlight in the crunch. ‘God’s Plan’, as the ink on his arm says.

(Professional Management Group).

Skipper Mitchell Santner said New Zealand will rely on their past experience in the sub-continent and inherent adaptability skills to tame different conditions to come good in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

The Kiwis played eight white ball matches (3 ODIs and 5 T20Is) in India in the run-up to the ICC showpiece, beginning on February 7.

“I guess we’ve had a few players who played in Chennai recently in the IPL or obviously games throughout our careers. I think the last couple of years have shown that Chennai is a pretty good wicket,” said Santner after the fifth T20I against India here on Saturday, which they lost by 46 runs.

New Zealand, placed in Group B along with Afghanistan, UAE, South Africa and Canada, will play three group matches in Chennai and one in Ahmedabad.

In that, two matches will have 11 am starts, while the other games will begin at 3 pm and 7 pm.

Santner said the Antipodeans have the wherewithal to rise up to the challenge.

“The day game is going to be slightly different. Guys are going to have to reset their clocks, try to get up a little bit earlier. But again, it’s a new challenge for us. We go to Ahmedabad for one game on red soil, then we go to Chennai on black soil, so it’s going to be slightly different.

“I guess we pride ourselves on trying to adapt as quickly as we can on surfaces. So, I think, going throughout the World Cup, we have to adapt to different surfaces. We’ve got three games in Chennai, so, it might play a lot different to what here, or it could play the same. And if it does, we kind of know how to operate,” he explained.

In that context, Santner said the testing T20I series against India which they lost 1-4 will stand them in good stead.

“I think we’re obviously tested a lot throughout the series. We knew that was going to be the case. We know how good India are, especially their record at home. But for us it was a great series, great prep,” he said.

“I guess the results, a little bit disappointing, but as a learning, I think everyone, bowlers especially, got a lot out of the series. So if we are to come up against India, or a really flat wicket in India, where I guess 230, 240 might be a good effort,” he said.

The New Zealand captain was delighted to see the return of express pacer Lockie Ferguson.

In his first match after a few months, Ferguson had figures of two for 41 and his wickets were Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.

“Lockie has shown his class whenever he plays for New Zealand. Obviously, he’s in the franchise stuff as well, but I think for us, making sure he was back ready and fit, ready to go,” Santner said.

“We didn’t want to push it too early. I guess for his first bowl out, it looked pretty good and was bowling pretty quick. So for us, it’s a massive boost,” he added.

Bowling coach Morne Morkel said he was encouraged by the depth and versatility within the Indian squad, stressing that clear communication around roles remains a key focus for the coaching group.

“With the 11 that we can pick on match-day, we’ve got 11 match winners. Everybody has got a certain ‘X’ factor about them. They know that there’s no guarantee of being the 11. It’s about who’s suited best for the conditions and how we can help the team win at the end of the day,” he said.

Support and communication

Morkel heaped praise on Jasprit Bumrah, highlighting the importance of support and communication beyond technical input for the 32-year-old pace spearhead.

“Jasprit is the best bowler in the world. But at the end of the day, everybody needs somebody to talk to. There’s always a lot of expectation on him to go and bowl that magical spell and win the game for us. Sometimes, that burden can take its toll,” he explained.

“Having played the game and knowing a lot of the greats in the past that I played with, we all just need somebody to communicate with. I always check in with Bumrah to make sure he’s comfortable and if he agrees with the plans we’ve made. He’s like a Ferrari car. If you can get the engine, the oil and all of that running well, the car will perform.”

He added that the Men in Blue’s variety in bowling resources also gives them a tactical edge.

“It’s a luxury that we have a handful of bowlers that can bowl in every situation. Part of the thinking for us leading into the World Cup was to look at different sorts of combinations. We don’t want teams to have set plans against us.”

Former India opener Aakash Chopra says India are “incomplete” without Hardik Pandya, underlining the all-rounder’s unmatched value as the team begins its final preparation for the T20 World Cup with a crucial five-match series against New Zealand.

The series is India’s final T20I assignment before they begin the defence of their T20 world title.

Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Game Plan’, Chopra reserved special praise for Pandya, calling him irreplaceable in the Indian setup.

“Team India is incomplete without Hardik Pandya. There is only one Hardik in the entire world. What he provides with bat and ball, no one else in India can do,” he said.

“You might want a spinner like Varun Chakaravarthy or Kuldeep Yadav in the eleven, but then you also need a batter at number eight. You can’t have everything, you can’t field twelve players.

“Only Hardik can do this for you. He can bowl with the new ball and make an impact, and he bowls at the death too. He even bowled the final over of the 2024 T20 World Cup which India won. Only Hardik can do such things. You won’t find anyone else like him.”

Chopra said the New Zealand series will be key for India to settle combinations amid injury and form concerns.

“This five-match T20I series versus New Zealand is very important for Suryakumar Yadav and his team. New Zealand have also come fully prepared. In the ODI series they rested some players, but here their main T20 World Cup squad is playing,” Chopra said.

He added that the team management must use the series to finalise their balance.

“Will they play two pacers and three spinners? Which batters do they need? If Tilak Varma is fit, will they give Rinku Singh a chance or keep playing Shreyas Iyer? There are many questions to answer before this series,” he noted.

Chopra also spoke about Abhishek Sharma’s growing stature in T20 cricket, saying the left-hander now carries a “fear factor”.

“In the last six to eight months, Abhishek Sharma has shown different sides to his game. Now, his reputation arrives before he does — the kind of fear Rohit Sharma had in this format,” he said.

On India captain Suryakumar, Chopra advised a slight tactical adjustment early in the innings.

“He needs to remind himself that he is a 360-degree player and can score all around the ground. Early on, he should look to play straighter and along the ground,” he said.

With selection calls and roles still fluid, the New Zealand series is expected to play a decisive role in shaping India’s T20 plans going forward.

Suryakumar Yadav’s recent lean patch has not shaken his self-belief.

The 35-year-old — who will play his 100th T20I when he leads the Indian side in the first T20I against New Zealand — was his joyous self while fielding pointed questions about his dwindling returns.

When asked how he was working on his game ‘behind the curtains’, a tongue-in-cheek reply ensued: “Parde ke peeche tho nahin kiya mein. Khula ground hee tha. Udar hee batting karne gaya tha. (I did not bat behind the curtain. I batted in an open ground itself),” Suryakumar said, evoking chuckles across the press conference hall at the VCA Stadium.

“I’ve been short of runs. But I can’t change my identity. I have decided to keep doing what I have been doing in the last three or four years, which has given me a lot of success,” Suryakumar said.

The skipper conveyed that his focus was on India’s performance in the five-match series and the upcoming T20 World Cup, and not his individual numbers.

“If I were playing a singles sport like table tennis or lawn tennis, I would have given more thought to it. This is a team sport, and my first responsibility is to know how the team is doing. I’m happy if I perform in the team’s victory. If not, it doesn’t matter, as it can happen. I have to look after the other 14 players also, as I’ve been appointed as the leader of everyone,” he explained.

Suryakumar was quick to point out that the Test and ODI series losses to New Zealand are history, and that India has been doing exceptionally well in the shortest format.

“The Test series loss was long back. The T20Is are about to start, and we’ll talk about that. We’ve been playing this format well. There will be pressure, but where’s the fun in playing if there is no pressure?”

New Zealand T20I skipper Mitchell Santner said his team was not stressing on its triumph against India in the ODIs, and that the ultimate objective of the five-match T20I series was to look at the “bigger picture” and “have a good practice leading into the World Cup”.

“I guess we’ve had some recent success [in India] in different formats. For us, [this series] is about playing a great team in similar conditions to what we’re going to have in the World Cup,” Santner said at the VCA Stadium on Tuesday (January 20, 2026), on the eve of the first T20I.

The Kiwi skipper understands that the Men in Blue wear a different look in T20Is, and wouldn’t be perturbed by what transpired in the ODIs. “The results in the ODI series were good, but T20 is a different series against a different team.”

“Obviously, we’re trying to find the team that we want to put out on the park. We just want the guys to be performing and fresh. So, first things first, you want to win the series, no doubt. Every time you play for New Zealand, you want to win. So that’s at the forefront of our minds. But the bigger picture at the end of the series is the World Cup,” Santner emphasised.