New Zealand’s Chase Was Over by the Third Over — India Were Already Champions

New Zealand’s reply to India’s 255 lasted just 19 balls before two wickets had fallen and the match was, for all practical purposes, decided. The required run rate had already climbed beyond 20 per over. Finn Allen was already in the pavilion having scored nine. And Bumrah was already demonstrating the kind of form that had made him the world’s most feared fast bowler throughout this tournament. India won by 96 runs and retained the T20 World Cup. The third over said everything about the final’s direction.
The first innings told the same story from the other direction. India’s powerplay of 92 for no loss equalled the World Cup record, with Abhishek Sharma’s 50 off 18 balls leading the charge. Sanju Samson (89 off 46) and Ishan Kishan (54 off 25) maintained that extraordinary rate through the middle overs, and despite a cluster of late wickets, Shivam Dube’s 26 off eight at the death pushed the total to 255.
New Zealand’s bowlers tried but were outclassed at every stage. Lockie Ferguson conceded 24 in his first over, Matt Henry 21, and Jacob Duffy 15 on recall from the bench. No bowling team could reasonably have contained India’s batting on this form, and New Zealand never gave themselves a chance by their expensive early work.
Bumrah’s three wickets with slow yorkers were the bowling performances of the match, earning him the man-of-the-match award. New Zealand ended on 159 — four World Cup final losses since 2015, and this the most emphatic of the lot.
India are history-makers. First to defend the title. First to win it at home. First in men’s T20 cricket to claim consecutive World Cups. First, in every way that matters.