India were preordained to win this World Cup and they did not disappoint

Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the 10th T20 World Cup final, between India and New Zealand at Ahmedabad. Should India prevail today, they would surpass England and West Indies to become the first nation to win three world titles in this format while also becoming the first side to defend the 20-over World Cup and extend their run in global white-ball tournaments to three after the 2024 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy. New Zealand, who hammered favourites South Africa in the semi-final, using the guile of their spin attack, a Hydra wearing black caps, before an extraordinary 33-ball hundred from Finn Allen took them home, have never won a global tournament but were runners-up in 2021 in the 20-over game and in 2015 and 2019 in 50-over competition.

In matches against India over all formats in the past two years, New Zealand have achieved more than any other visitor in Tests, winning 3-0 in 2024 but more recently lost 3-2 over five ODIS and 4-1 in five T20s held in January 2026. But in all three previous meetings in this specific tournament, it’s 3-0 to the Kiwis with victories at Jo’burg in 2007, Nagpur in 2016 and Dubai in 2021.

Ahmedabad has both black soil and red soil pitches, the former helping spin and the latter, with more bounce, generally producing belters for batting. India, with only five bowlers they trust, would favour red soil and back their batting line-up of IPL superstars to click and Jasprit Bumrah’s yorkers to cramp the Kiwi big-hitters. Although conspiracists are already speculating that ICC will simply accede to the India team’s wishes, I think they would generally pick the flatter of two pitches given a choice in any global final. Ahmedabad will be packed and , even though not as fervently patriotic as the crowds at Mumbai, Chennai or Bengaluru, will create a cracking atmosphere. But New Zealand are seasoned IPL veterans and won’t be intimidated. “I wouldn’t mind breaking a few hearts to lift the trophy for once,” said the captain Mitchell Santner.