The final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be played between world No. 1 T20I team India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8. In the summit clash, which is scheduled to take place at
Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the Indian men’s cricket team would like to become the first team in the world to successfully defend its T20 World Cup title in addition to becoming the first host nation to lift the trophy. But it won’t be an easy job, as New Zealand are a quality side, and in the shortest format mega-event, they have always managed to outshine India.
In the three matches played so far between the two teams in the Men’s T20 World Cup, India ended up on the losing side on all three occasions.
Results of India-New Zealand matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup:
T20 World Cup 2007, Johannesburg (September 16)
India faced New Zealand for the first time in T20Is on September 16, 2007, and in the 2007 T20 World Cup Super 8s match played at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, the Men in Blue suffered a close defeat by 10 runs. Indian skipper MS Dhoni invited the Black Caps to bat first, and they posted a total of 190/10 in their quota of 20 overs.
In reply, despite Gautam Gambhir’s 51 and Virender Sehwag’s 40, India could only manage to reach a total of 180/9 in 20 overs. Spin-bowling all-rounder Daniel Vettori, who was the captain of the Kiwis in that fixture, picked up four wickets for 20 runs in four overs.
T20 World Cup 2016, Nagpur (March 15)
In the 2016 edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, India were up against the Kiwis in their first Super 10s match at VCA Stadium in Nagpur on March 15 but suffered a humiliating defeat by 47 runs.
Indian bowlers restricted New Zealand to just 126/7 after Kane Williamson opted to bat first, but their batters got bowled out for just 79 runs in 18.1 overs. Indian skipper MS Dhoni played a knock of 30 runs from 30 balls, and Virat Kohli scored 23 runs.
For Kiwis, Mitchell Santner finished with figures of 4 for 11 in 4 overs, and Ish Sodhi dismissed three Indian batters for 18 runs in four overs.
T20 World Cup 2021, Dubai (October 31)
In the Super 12s match of the 2021 T20 World Cup, New Zealand crushed the Virat Kohli-led Indian men’s cricket team by 8 wickets at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 31.
In the must-win match, India posted a total of 110/7 in 20 overs, and the Kiwis chased down the 111-run target in just 14.3 overs for the loss of only two wickets. The defeat against the Black Caps in that fixture pushed India closer towards a first-round exit from the tournament.
Top performers and record holders in India-New Zealand T20 World Cup matches:
Most wins: 3 wins in 3 matches for New Zealand.
Highest total: 190/10 in 20 overs by New Zealand in Johannesburg on September 16, 2007.
Lowest total: 79/19 in 18.1 overs by India in Nagpur on March 15, 2016.
Biggest win (by runs): New Zealand crush India by 47 runs in Nagpur on March 15, 2016.
Biggest win (by wickets): New Zealand hammered India by 8 wickets in Dubai on October 31, 2021.
Most runs: 54 runs in two matches by MS Dhoni of India.
Highest score: 51 runs from 33 balls by Gautam Gambhir of India in Johannesburg on September 16, 2007.
Highest average: 51.00 by Gautam Gambhir of India (51 runs in one match).
Highest strike rate: 235.29 by Virender Sehwag of India (40 runs from 17 balls).
Most 50s: 1 half-century in one match by Gautam Gambhir of India.
Most sixes: 4 maximums in one match by Craig McMillan of New Zealand.
Most wickets: 5 wickets in two matches by Ish Sodhi of New Zealand.
Best bowling figures: 4 for 11 in four overs by Mitchell Santner of New Zealand in Nagpur on March 15, 2016.
Most four-wicket hauls: 1 four-fer each for Mitchell Santner and Daniel Vettori of New Zealand.
Most catches: 4 catches in two matches by Martin Guptill of New Zealand.
Highest partnership: 76 runs for the first wicket between Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag of India in Johannesburg on September 16, 2007.
| WINNER | MARGIN | LOSER | VENUE | DATE |
| New Zealand (190/10) | 10 runs | India (180/9) | Johannesburg | September 16, 2007 |
| New Zealand (126/7) | 47 runs | India (79/10) | Nagpur | March 15, 2016 |
| New Zealand (111/2) | 8 wickets | India (110/7) | Dubai | October 31, 2021 |
However, in T20Is, India have won 18 out of 30 matches played so far against the Black Caps, which includes 4 wins in a five-match series played earlier this year.
