Ahmedabad, March 8, 2026 — India retained the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title with a commanding 96-run win over New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium, turning the world’s largest cricket arena into a celebration of home triumph and redemption. The victory completed a dominant campaign for the Men in Blue and secured a string of historic firsts for the side.
India entered the tournament as favourites after an impressive run of form-winning 48 of their last 56 T20Is since October 2023-and delivered across the event, finishing with seven wins in eight matches. Their campaign began with a 29-run victory over the United States at Wankhede Stadium on February 7, followed by a 93-run win over Namibia in Delhi on February 12. A key group-stage result came against arch-rivals Pakistan, a 61-run triumph in Colombo on February 15, and a 17-run win over the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18.
The team suffered a lone setback, losing to South Africa in Ahmedabad on February 22, but regrouped quickly. India beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in Chennai on February 26 and edged the West Indies by five wickets in Kolkata on March 1 to reach the knockouts. In a tight semi-final, the Suryakumar Yadav‑led side defeated England by seven runs to book their place in the final.
Sunday’s comprehensive win over New Zealand not only defended the crown but also rewrote the tournament’s record books. India became the first men’s team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup, the first to lift the trophy on home soil, and the first nation to claim three Men’s T20 World Cup titles. The triumph builds on their 2024 success, when India completed an unbeaten eight‑match run to win their second title, and cements their status as the format’s dominant force.
The win offered poetic closure at a venue that had hosted painful defeats in 2023, and it established a new benchmark in T20 history as Indian fans celebrated a landmark achievement. Reported by IANS.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/03/09/india-complete-demolition-act-win-third-t20-world-cup-title/
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Publish Date: 2026-03-09 02:48:00
