India’s historic triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has drawn praise from across the cricketing world, including former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi. The legendary all-rounder applauded India for becoming the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title after their dominant 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final.
Speaking in a video shared on his social media account, Afridi said India fully deserved the trophy because of their balanced squad and consistent performances throughout the tournament. According to him, India’s biggest strength was the depth of their squad, with even the players on the bench capable of stepping into the playing XI without weakening the team.
“The World Cup is over. I think India deserved the title. They have a great team combination. The players sitting on the bench were also as good as the playing XI. This is why I say that your bench needs to be strong. India’s bench was very strong; they could have picked anyone from there and slotted them into the playing XI. They played the whole tournament as champions,” Shahid Afridi said.
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One of the standout performers of the final was India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Playing in front of his home crowd in Ahmedabad, Bumrah delivered a match-winning spell, finishing with remarkable figures of 4/15 in his four overs. His clinical performance helped dismantle New Zealand’s batting lineup and sealed India’s commanding victory.
Afridi reserved special praise for Bumrah, describing him as one of the finest bowlers in world cricket. The former Pakistan skipper highlighted the fast bowler’s versatility and ability to deliver under pressure.
Shahid Afridi said:
“India deserved to win. 🇮🇳🏆 The Indian team played like true champions throughout the entire tournament.” 👏🔥#INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/Hszi3wMiig— Khan (@ccricket713) March 9, 2026
“Sanju Samson was outstanding. He got the opportunity, and he delivered with his sensible hitting and his ability to build the innings. Abhishek Sharma also performed well tonight. Ishan Kishan also performed outstandingly, just like he had performed against Pakistan. Jasprit Bumrah was the backbone of their bowling, who has carried India on his back for a long time with his impressive performances. Be it with the new ball, old ball, slower one or yorker, he is one of the best bowlers in my opinion,” he added.
Afridi was not the only former Pakistan captain to acknowledge India’s dominance. Legendary batter Javed Miandad also praised India’s cricketing system, suggesting that their success stems from a strong, well-structured development pathway.
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“Their team (India) is now reaping the benefits of a strong process-driven cricket structure,” Miandad said. “If you look at the talent they are producing now, it is because of their strong structure. They are not short on batters, spinners or fast bowlers, and their young players are result-driven and have game awareness,” he added.
With a powerful mix of experienced match-winners and emerging talents, India’s latest T20 World Cup triumph further underlines their growing dominance in world cricket.
