Shortly after leading India to glory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav visited the revered Shree Siddhivinayak Temple to offer prayers and seek blessings from Lord Ganesha. The spiritual visit came days after India’s historic triumph, a moment that further cemented the team’s dominance in the shortest format of the game.
The Men in Blue delivered a commanding performance in the final against the New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India sealed a massive 96-run victory to lift the coveted trophy and, in the process, became the most successful team in the tournament’s history. It was also a landmark achievement as India successfully defended the title, something no other team had managed before.
With this victory, Suryakumar Yadav joined an elite list of Indian captains that includes legends like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, both of whom had previously led India to ICC titles. For Surya, the triumph marked a defining moment in his leadership journey.
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India’s batting unit laid the foundation for the victory with a blistering display. The innings began on a high note as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma stitched together a rapid 98-run opening partnership. Abhishek set the tone early with a fearless knock of 52 off just 21 deliveries before being dismissed by Rachin Ravindra.
#WATCH | Carrying the #ICCWorldCup2026 trophy, Head Coach of Team India, Gautam Gambhir, along with Skipper Surya Kumar Yadav, offered prayers at the Shree Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/yCr9SeEbr6
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2026
Samson continued the momentum alongside Ishan Kishan, who smashed a quickfire 54 off 25 balls. Samson played one of the standout knocks of the match, hammering 89 off 46 deliveries before falling to Jimmy Neesham, who also accounted for Kishan in the same phase.
India faced a brief setback when captain Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for a golden duck, again by Neesham. However, late fireworks from Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma pushed the total to a daunting 255 in 20 overs. Dube remained unbeaten on 26 off just eight balls, while Tilak contributed a handy cameo.
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In response, New Zealand’s chase never gained momentum. Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah led India’s disciplined bowling attack, dismantling the Kiwi batting line-up. Axar removed both Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips, while Bumrah dismissed Ravindra early in the innings.
Eventually, New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs, sealing a memorable victory for India and marking another golden chapter in the nation’s cricketing history.
