Published on: Mar 9, 2026 1:19 pm IST|Updated on: Mar 9, 2026 4:16 pm IST
On a Sunday evening at the biggest cricket stadium in the world, i.e., the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Team India etched their name in history books by winning the coveted ICC T20 World Cup 2026. By doing so, they have become the only team to win 3 T20 World Cup titles and also have become the only team to defend their title from the previous edition. Team India’s journey throughout this T20 World Cup was largely dominant, with a couple of low points here and there. How did Suryakumar and his men orchestrate India’s title win for a record 3rd time? Let’s take a look.
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Team India got lucky enough right from the start, as they were placed in one of the easiest groups in this World Cup. They were placed in Group A along with three associate members, Namibia, the United States of America, and the Netherlands, along with the inconsistent Pakistan. Team India finished the group stage unbeaten with four wins in four games. They dominated Pakistan and Namibia in a one-sided affair and registered hard-fought wins against the likes of the United States of America and the Netherlands.
The broadcasters’ forced ‘greatest rivalry’ against Pakistan was a cakewalk for Team India as Suryakumar Yadav and his men annihilated their so-called ‘arch-rivals’ by 61 runs. The match was supposed to favor Pakistan, as they were playing all their games of this World Cup in Sri Lanka and were well-versed with the conditions. However, Team India had planned to dismantle Pakistan, and they did so in style, courtesy of a blazing 77 off 40 deliveries from Ishan Kishan that helped India post a formidable 175 for the loss of 7 wickets. In reply, Pakistan was never in the chase and were bundled out for a mere 114 in 18 overs, resulting in a scintillating win for a record 8th win over Pakistan in the T20 World Cups.
Team India faced an early hiccup in the opening game of the Super 8s stage against South Africa. The Proteas avenged their loss at the T20 World Cup 2024 finals against Team India. Aiden Markram and his men outclassed the reigning champions by 76 and put them in a spot of bother. After that loss, India’s net run rate took a heavy toll, and they were left with winning their remaining games against Zimbabwe and two-time T20 World Cup champions West Indies.
South Africa’s loss was a wake-up call for the Indian team. With the exit door nearing, Team India shone under pressure in the following two Super 8 games against Zimbabwe and West Indies. They first secured a massive 72-run win against Zimbabwe in Chennai and then chased down 195 set by West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata with 5 wickets to spare. Sanju Samson, who was never among the preferred players for the eleven right from the start of the World Cup, played one of the career-defining knocks, scoring an unbeaten 97 off 50 deliveries to help his side chase down the score with 4 balls to spare.
This World Cup should be best remembered for the redemption of Sanju Samson. We all always knew the potential Sanju possessed as a batter, but somehow, he would find ways to fail. Even before the start of this World Cup, Sanju Samson’s dismal show in the back-to-back bilateral series against South Africa and New Zealand at home led him to sit on the bench at the start of this World Cup, with Ishan Kishan taking his opening slot. They say heroes rise in the big moments, but fate wrote a different script for Sanju. The man who once seemed like a burden for this World Cup hunting team emerged as the biggest asset and the man of crunch games.
The 31-year-old got his first outing in this T20 World Cup against Namibia when Abhishek had to sit out due to an upset stomach. He scored a quick-fire 22 and gave his team a stable start along with Ishan Kishan. He was left out for the next two games against the Netherlands and South Africa as Abhishek returned to the eleven. Sanju’s next opportunity came against Zimbabwe in a must-win game. With 2 sixes and a four, Sanju scored 24 and, once again, failed to keep up his good start.
After two innings in this World Cup, Sanju didn’t score big, but given the form Abhishek Sharma was going through, Sanju provided the much-needed stability at the top, which kept him afloat for another must-win encounter against the two-time champions, West Indies. Sanju pulled the trigger at the right time with a magnificent unbeaten 97 off 50 deliveries and ensured his side finished on the right side of the line while chasing a mammoth 195 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Sanju earned a well-deserved ‘Player of the Match’ award in that game, but he was far from done.
Next up was the big semifinal against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India steered their way to a massive 253 for the loss of 7 wickets, and yet again, it was Sanju Samson with the top score on the side. The stylish right-hander scored a breathtaking 89 off 42 deliveries, proving to be the architect of the massive score India got. Another do-or-die game and another ‘clutch’ performance from Sanju Samson earned him his second player of the match award on the trot.
After two match-saving knocks, Sanju got the stage to etch his name into the history books, and what bigger occasion could he have asked for than the ICC T20 World Cup final? After his last two knocks, Samson’s ability to handle pressure was on full display yet again, this time in the big final. He carved out a decisive 89 (46), anchoring his side’s march to 255/5 and proving why his fans have been backing him all these years.
Three quintessential knocks defined Sanju Samson in this World Cup, as he finished his memorable campaign with 321 runs in just 5 innings at a mind-blowing average of 80.25 and an outstanding strike rate of 199.37. Sanju’s heroics earned him the much-deserved ‘Player of the Tournament’ award as he finished as the third-highest scorer in the tournament and the highest-run scorer for Team India. What makes his performance even sweeter is that it helped Team India lift the coveted T20 World Cup for a record third time.
Tags: T20 World Cup 2026