At 25, Abhishek Sharma is already in his eighth season at Sunrisers Hyderabad. Having been traded to the franchise after just one season with Delhi Capitals in 2018, the southpaw from Punjab has acquired an imposing aura in orange, garnering the unconditional affection of a quintessentially easy-going Hyderabadi crowd with his daring stroke-play.

On Tuesday night (April 21, 2026), Abhishek’s stature at Sunrisers rose further as his second IPL hundred helped the side hammer his former franchise by 47 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya were the four Indians named in the ICC’s Team of 2026 T20 World Cup after their team coasted to a record third title.

Player of the Tournament Samson leads the winning quartet, after the opener’s 321 runs from just five innings.

Samson started the tournament outside of the Indian playing eleven but shone bright with Player of the Match performances against the West Indies and England before making the highest individual score in a Men’s T20 World Cup final with 89 against New Zealand on Sunday (March 8, 2026).

Kishan hit 317 runs – the fourth most of any player – as his performances across the top of the order anchored India’s batting performances with a huge strike rate of 193.29.

He produced a masterful 77 as an opener against Pakistan before adjusting to number three with important knocks against England and New Zealand, including a half-century in the final.

Pandya is the third Indian batter included, with the all-rounder recognised for his contribution with bat and ball. He scored two half-centuries with the bat and produced devastating spells when it mattered, including 52 off 28 against Namibia, while he also took nine wickets in all.

Bumrah is the fourth Indian player in the team, with the Player of the Match in the final recognised for his excellent bowling performances.

Bumrah finished as the tournament’s joint-leading wicket taker, with 14 from eight matches. He finished with figures of four for 15 in the final and posted an economy of 6.21 throughout the tournament.

The top of the order also includes Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan, who finished as the tournament’s top run-scorer with an aggregate of 383. That came at an average of 76.60 and was headlined by a pair of centuries, against Sri Lanka and Namibia.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament: 1. Sahibzada Farhan 2. Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper) 3. Ishan Kishan 4. Aiden Markram (captain) 5. Hardik Pandya 6. Will Jacks 7. Jason Holder 8. Jasprit Bumrah 9. Lungi Ngidi 10. Adil Rashid 11. Blessing Muzarabani 12th player: Shadley van Schalkwyk.

India pacer Arshdeep Singh has been fined 15% of his match fee for throwing the ball “aggressively and inappropriately” at New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell during the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad.

In addition, one demerit point has been added to Arshdeep’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

Arshdeep was found to have breached Article 2.9 of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment) at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match,” an ICC media release stated on Tuesday (March 10, 2026).

The incident occurred in the 11th over of New Zealand’s innings when Arshdeep fielded the ball on his follow-through and threw it aggressively, hitting the pads of the Black Caps vice-captain on Sunday (March 8, 2026).

India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs to become the first team to win three T20 World Cup titles. The Men in Blue also became the first side to successfully defend the title and win the tournament on home soil.

Arshdeep accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf, third umpire Allahuddien Paleker and fourth umpire Adrian Holdstock.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum fine of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

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:

Even during peak traffic hours along the banks of the Sabarmati, it rarely takes more than 90 minutes to travel the 60-odd kilometres between Nadiad and the Narendra Modi Stadium. This weekend, however, the small town is expected to see far more journeys to Ahmedabad — many hoping their favourite Nadiadi might help them secure a ticket to Sunday’s (March 8, 2026) Men’s T20 World Cup final and to wish him luck.

For Axar Patel, the occasion promises to be special for more than one reason. The allrounder will get a chance to play in front of his home crowd for the first time in this tournament after being left out of India’s two earlier matches in Ahmedabad.

“I have been desperately waiting for so long to play a big match at the home ground in front of the family,” Axar said after playing a key role in India’s semifinal win against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

“It’s a proud moment for me to play the World Cup final at my home ground. And it’ll also be the first time my son will watch me in action from the stadium, so that also matters a lot.”

Axar’s athleticism in the field proved crucial during England’s chase. His sprinting-backward-running catch to dismiss Harry Brook gave India early momentum, while a relay effort with Shivam Dube removed the dangerous Will Jacks after a blistering partnership with centurion Jacob Bethell.

Charging in from sweeper-cover, Axar completed the catch and lobbed the ball to Dube just before crossing the boundary rope — a moment that swung the match back India’s way.

“Today was kind of a day when the ball was chasing me,” Axar said.

“Harry Brook’s was personally tougher but if you look at the game situation and the manner in which the partnership had developed, to dismiss Jacks was critical, so it was special in that sense. It’s very difficult for me to choose but if you ask me personally, the Brook catch was tougher.”

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner believes adaptability, not familiarity, will decide the first T20 World Cup semifinal against South Africa here on Wednesday.

“We’ve played a lot of cricket in these conditions over the years, whether on international tours or in the IPL. South Africa have as well,” Santner said.

“At this stage, it’s about assessing what’s in front of you on the day. Conditions can change quickly, and teams that adapt faster put themselves in a good position.”

Reflecting on the seven-wicket defeat to the Proteas in the group stage, Santner pointed to the PowerPlay as a key factor. “In Ahmedabad, they got away from us early. They have a lot of power through the order. It might not always be about bowling them out, it could be about getting through the overs. Maybe 180 is a good score instead of 220.”

About the Eden Gardens surface, he said: “There could be a role for both seamers and spinners. Whatever you do first, you have to do it well.”

Santner was unfazed about the underdog tag. “We’ve had that for a long time. It’s a one-off game now. We’re here now, and we back ourselves in one-off games against most teams”.

Sanju Samson (97 n.o.) was the spine as India held its nerve on a Sunday (March 1, 2026) of delight at the Eden Gardens. The Men in Blue defeated the West Indies by five wickets in the ICC T20 Super Eight Group 1 match and sealed their semifinal berth. Chasing the visitor’s 195 for four, India finished with 199 for five in 19.2 overs.

Once India commenced its pursuit, Abhishek Sharma guided a four off Akeal Hosein. Samson cut loose against the left-arm spinner, picking a four, slog-sweeping a six, and yet the host was soon in a spot of bother.

Vital stand

Both Abhishek and Ishan Kishan holed out in the deep and Shimron Hetmyer, the fielder, revealed safe hands.

At 41 for two, the defending champion needed an alliance and Samson and Suryakumar Yadav stitched one worth 58. Samson carved his fifty and his skipper flicked a six off Jason Holder.

However, Suryakumar found Sherfane Rutherford on the fence. Samson battled on, often finding the fence and Tilak Varma gave him support. The two played along the turf, a Shamar Joseph over yielded a bouquet of fours, and Tilak launched Roston Chase into the stands.

Also Read | ICC T20 World Cup | South Africa defeats Zimbabwe by 5 wickets

Just as India seemed to be in the hunt, Tilak failed to get past Hetmyer. It boiled down to 50 from 30, but Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube did their bit and fittingly Samson hit the winning runs. He slumped into the turf with arms aloft. It was a moment that encapsulated relief and ecstasy.

Earlier, Suryakumar won the toss, elected to field and found an adhesive quality in the West Indies openers Shai Hope and Chase.

Shifting gears

Skipper Hope led the charts with a six and four off Hardik. Chase too shifted gears with a four off Arshdeep Singh.

A drive was also essayed, and when Jasprit Bumrah steamed in, he was reverse scooped.

Hardik was whipped for six and just as Chase accelerated, Varun Chakaravarthy castled Hope.

West Indies had 68, and Hetmyer swatted two sixes, one each off Hardik and Varun.

Quick wickets

Bumrah then lured an edge from Hetmyer and forced Chase into a miscued shot. And Hardik prised out Rutherford as West Indies lost some momentum.

But Rovman Powell and Holder had other ideas. The duo’s unbeaten 76 runs partnership was built upon mighty sixes. The West Indies had indeed gained a combative score but Samson owned the night.

Now England awaits India at Mumbai on Thursday.

Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed emerged as unlikely heroes for England and landed a sucker punch on New Zealand with their unbeaten 44-run seventh-wicket alliance, snatching a four-wicket win in their T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight Group 2 match at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday (February 27, 2026).

With 43 needed off the final three overs, Rehan launched the incursion against Glenn Phillips with a waft over long on. Jacks made the most of short-pitched bowling to dispatch a maximum over long-on and two consecutive boundaries — first down the ground and then square-leg.

After Rehan’s reverse-sweep over short third and a swat over long-off in Mitchell Santner’s over, England was just five short of the 160-run target, with six balls in hand. Matt Henry’s bouncer ploy could only delay the inevitable for two balls, before Jacks’ glance down fine-leg got England the winning runs.

The dramatic turnaround kept Pakistan alive in the tournament while England topped the group.

Tom Banton and Sam Curran’s 42-run stand for the fifth wicket and Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell’s 48-run third-wicket partnership were just as important in England’s win.

In the first innings, England’s spinners applied a timely squeeze on a flourishing innings.

After the openers provided a steady platform, Phillips began to hunt against the spinners, picking full-length deliveries for quick runs. The highlight was his no-look shot against Adil Rashid, which sent a googly deep into the stands over midwicket.

But England’s insistence with spin paid off, and wickets at the other end eventually forced Phillips into an error.

New Zealand lost Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell in the space of 12 runs. The squeeze around the Kiwis was firmly in place by the time Phillips departed in the 18th over. Santner and McConchie eked out 24 runs off the last three overs, but that was far less than what England would manage later in the evening.

The scores: New Zealand 159/7 in 20 overs (Tim Seifert 35, Glenn Phillips 39, Adil Rashid 2/28, Will Jacks 2/23, Rehan Ahmed 2/28) lost to England 161/6 in 19.3 overs (Tom Banton 33, Will Jacks 32 n.o., Rachin Ravindra 3/19).

Toss: New Zealand; PoM: Jacks.

Aiden Markram led from the front as South Africa sent out a strong warning to the rivals with a commanding nine-wicket victory over West Indies in their respective second Super Eight Group 1 clash of the T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday (February 26, 2026).

In pursuit of 177, Markram toyed with the Caribbean bowlers, scoring an unbeaten 82 (46b, 7×4, 4×6) and putting his side on the cusp of the semifinals. India’s victory over Zimbabwe later in the evening assured the Proteas a spot in the last-four stage.

The Proteas had already shown how well prepared they were by tactically taking down India at this venue three days ago, and this performance reiterated their billing as one of the favourites for the title.

Right from the first over of the chase, the South African skipper was in such a dominant mood that he casually strolled down to the pacers and smacked them over the infield at will. When they tried to cramp him for room, he simply stood to the leg side of the deliveries to loft them over midwicket for a couple of sixes.

Big opening stand

Soon, Quinton de Kock joined the action, depositing Shamar Joseph twice into the stands before taking on the spinners, as the duo added 95 for the opening wicket.

After de Kock departed, Ryan Rickelton ensured there would be no respite as he and his skipper overhauled the target with 23 balls to spare.

The platform for the win, though, was set up by the South African pacers, led by Lungi Ngidi (three for 30).

Electing to bowl, Kagiso Rabada and Ngidi bent their backs, extracting disconcerting bounce from the red-soil surface. They struck twice in their opening overs to reduce the two-time champions to 43 for four.

That soon became 83 for seven by the 11th over, as the West Indian batters stuck to their mantra of ‘live or die by the sword’ without adapting to the conditions.

Romario Shepherd (52 n.o.) and Jason Holder (49) got the innings back on track through an 89-run stand to take their team to 176 for eight and give the bowlers something to defend.

Markram, however, had other ideas as he scripted his outfit’s sixth consecutive win of the competition.

The scores: West Indies 176/8 in 20 overs (Jason Holder 49, Romario Shepherd 52 n.o., Rabada 2/22, Ngidi 3/30, Bosch 2/31) lost to South Africa 177/1 in 16.1 overs (Aiden Markram 82 n.o., Quinton de Kock 47, Ryan Rickelton 45 n.o.). Toss: SA. PoM: Markram.