There is a widely held belief in T20 cricket that winning the World Cup is enormously difficult, and winning it twice in a row is all but impossible. India have rendered that theory obsolete. Their 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final — a performance of batting brutality and bowling precision — makes them the first men’s team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup. They are, without exaggeration, the greatest T20 side the game has ever seen.
India’s first innings was built around a record-equalling powerplay of 92 for no loss, with Abhishek Sharma’s 50 off 18 balls the highlight of an extraordinary six-over period. Sanju Samson anchored the middle overs with 89 off 46, while Ishan Kishan’s 54 off 25 maintained the aggressive scoring rate. New Zealand’s bowlers were hammered in every phase of the innings, and their final concession of 255 was the third time in this tournament that India had surpassed 250.
The New Zealand chase was effectively over before it started. Bumrah’s three-wicket haul with slow yorkers removed any lingering hope the Black Caps may have harboured, and the top order’s contribution of barely nine runs between four batters sealed the result comprehensively. Seifert’s half-century provided some pride, but the margin of 96 was a fair reflection of the contest.
India’s achievement sits alongside the greatest team performances in cricket history. To win back-to-back World Cups, the second at home, in front of 100,000 passionate fans, requires not just talent but character, consistency, and collective belief.
India have all three in abundance. They are champions, and they have earned the right to be called the greatest T20 team in history.
The Great Champions: India Prove Defence Is Possible in T20 Cricket
