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The Narendra Modi Stadium witnessed a historic night as India successfully defended their crown, defeating New Zealand in a high-octane final of the T20 World Cup 2026. While the collective effort of the Men in Blue was palpable, the night belonged to one man: Sanju Samson. In a tournament defined by his clinical precision and ‘Chetta’ energy, Samson’s redemption arc reached its pinnacle, earning him the Player of the Tournament award and an emotional tribute from the legendary Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli applauds Sanju Samson with touching message
Samson’s journey to the 2026 podium is the stuff of cricketing folklore. Just months ago, his place in the squad was under heavy fire following a dismal run against New Zealand, where he managed a meagre 46 runs across five innings. Dropped in favour of Ishan Kishan and written off by critics, Samson scripted a comeback that silenced every detractor. After steadying himself with quick starts against Namibia and Zimbabwe, he transformed into a big-match monster when the stakes were highest.
Samson’s knockout stage performance was nothing short of breathtaking. He struck a vital 97* against the West Indies in a virtual quarterfinal, followed by back-to-back scores of 89 in the semifinal against England and the final against New Zealand. With 321 runs in five innings at a staggering average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37, Samson surpassed Kohli’s 2014 record (319 runs) for the most runs by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup edition.
His performance in Ahmedabad also saw him join an elite club alongside Kohli and Shahid Afridi as the only players to score fifties in both the semifinal and final of the same tournament.
Overwhelmed by the achievement, Kohli took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message: “What a remarkable tournament from the most well-deserved man of the tournament @sanjusamson. You performed when it mattered the most. Really happy for you chetta.”
Clinical India defends their title as New Zealand crumbles in Ahmedabad
The final was a showcase of Indian batting depth and bowling lethality. Despite New Zealand winning the toss and electing to field, India’s openers set a blistering pace. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 52 off 21 balls provided the platform, but it was the 100-run partnership between Samson and Ishan Kishan (54 off 25) that demoralized the Kiwi attack. Shivam Dube’s late cameo (26* off 8) propelled India to a massive 255/5, the highest-ever total in a T20 World Cup final.
Faced with a mountain to climb, the Black Caps faltered under the lights. While Tim Seifert offered resistance with a quickfire 52, the Indian bowling duo of Jasprit Bumrah (4/15) and Axar Patel (3/23) dismantled the New Zealand top order. Despite a gritty 43 from skipper Mitchell Santner, the Kiwis were bundled out for 159.
The victory marks India’s second consecutive T20 World Cup title, cementing their era of dominance. For Samson, it wasn’t just about the trophy; it was about surpassing the 85-run final records of legends like Kane Williamson and Marlon Samuels to claim the highest knockout score by an Indian. On this night in Ahmedabad, the ‘Chetta’ of Indian cricket finally claimed his throne.
