India vs New Zealand Final, ICC T20 World Cup 2026: India will be aiming to create history when they face New Zealand in the final of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. A win will make India the first team to win the T20 World Cup thrice, having lifted the trophy in 2007 and 2024. India will be heading into the match on the back of a thrilling 7-run win over England in the semifinal in Mumbai.

The campaign has been an impressive one for the Indian team so far, having witnessed so many ups and downs. Their only defeat in the tournament came against South Africa at the same venue in the Super 8 stage. There have been a few concerns for India, which they will be looking to rectify before taking the field in the much-awaited final. Despite not being at their best, India have emerged as one of the strongest teams in the competition, but if the issues are not fixed, you can be assured that the Black Caps will exploit them to the hilt.

New Zealand made it to the final on the back of a sensational 9-wicket victory against South Africa in the semifinal. Finn Allen unleashed fireworks as he smashed the fastest century in T20 World Cup history.


Exposed bowling on flat tracks

Despite scoring 253/7, India’s supposedly world-class bowling attack allowed England to get to 246, just seven runs away. India’s spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel conceded runs at economy rates of 16 and 11.7, respectively. It forced the skipper Suryakumar Yadav to change his plans and rush Jasprit Bumrah into the attack early, leaving only Axar and Shivam Dube as the option for the 20th over. Dube conceded 22 to England’s tailender.

More than anything, the match showed that without Bumrah, India don’t have any reliable bowlers for flat tracks.


Fielding concerns

India had an impressive outing on the field during the semifinal against England, with Axar Patel taking two jaw-dropping catches. However, the concern is not yet solved. India still have the most dropped catches in the tournament with 13 and the worst captaincy efficiency of around 75%.


Inconsistent opening partnership and Abhishek's form

Abhishek Sharma has had a horrible tournament so far, managing just one half-century. His early dismissal has given momentum to the opponent teams with an early breakthrough. However, the team is unlikely to drop him because the only batter available in the reserves is Rinku Singh, whose form wasn’t much better himself.

India are yet to have a single 50-plus opening partnership in this tournament.

Suryakumar hasn’t had any meaningful impact since the match-winning fifty against the USA in the group stage. Worryingly, his record in knockout matches is not good, with no half-centuries under his belt.


IND vs NZ Squads, ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Final

India Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy

i: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (C), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, Devon Conway