India vs New Zealand Final, ICC T20 World Cup 2026: The match officials for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 final between India and New Zealand have been announced, with the summit clash scheduled to be played at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8. India made it to the final with a thrilling 7-run win over England in Mumbai, whereas New Zealand got the better of South Africa by 9 wickets.
England’s Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf will serve as the on-field umpires for the India vs New Zealand final match. The former will officiate in his second consecutive ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final, having stood alongside Chris Gaffaney in the final of the 2024 edition. The appointment continues Illingworth’s impressive run in major ICC events. In recent years, he has also officiated in the finals of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
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Wharf has previously officiated at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 before being named to the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires last year. Both Illingworth and Wharf also stood together during New Zealand’s stunning semi-final victory over South Africa earlier this week at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
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South Africa’s Allahuddien Paleker has been appointed as the third umpire. The 48-year-old was elevated to the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires alongside Wharf in March 2025 and has officiated in six matches during the ongoing tournament. Adrian Holdstock, who is also from South Africa, will assist as the fourth umpire, while Andy Pycroft will take up the duties of match referee in Ahmedabad.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Final - India v New Zealand
On-field Umpires: Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf
Third Umpire: Allahuddien Paleker
Fourth Umpire: Adrian Holdstock
Match Referee: Andy Pycroft
India will be making their fourth appearance in the T20 World Cup. They have a chance to create history as they aim to become the first team to defend the T20 WC title and win the mega event on their home turf. While New Zealand will be looking to come up with a special effort to lift their maiden T20 WC, India could become the first team to win the tournament thrice, having previously won it in 2007 and 2024.
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
New Zealand Squad: 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