T20 World Cup 2026: What happened the last time India played New Zealand in an ICC tournament final?
India and New Zealand will lock horns at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final.
India is looking to becoming the first team to defend its T20 World Cup crown, as well as the first side to win the T20 World Cup thrice, while New Zealand is out to win its maiden title in the shortest format having lost its only previous final.
Both sides have gradually improved as the tournament progressed, recovering from losses to South Africa that displayed the frailties in the line-up.
India has failed to win any of its three World Cup games against New Zealand in the shortest format, the most recent being the group-stage encounter in 2021.
The most recent encounter between the two sides in an ICC tournament final, however, came during the Champions Trophy final in Dubai in early 2025.
After opting to bat first, the New Zealand top order failed to convert starts into anything substantial. The team needed half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell to put up a par score of 251/7 in 50 overs. Spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy picked two wickets each.
Skipper Rohit Sharma led the chase from the front with the bat, scoring a solid 76. Solid contributions from the middle order compensated for the early wicket of Virat Kohli. KL Rahul stayed till the end to see the team over the line with an over to spare, handing India its seventh ICC title.
Published on Mar 08, 2026
