Despite losing the toss, India made full use of the conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, to post 255-5 at the end of 20 overs in their T20
World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand on Sunday, March 08. Funnily enough, the eventual score has crossed the 240-run mark that the Indians put up on the board during their ODI World Cup finale against Australia at the same venue on November 19, 2023.
The game in 2023 has horrific memories in the minds of Indian team fans, as it gave them arguably the biggest heartbreak in all the years. For the unversed, the team had lost to the Aussies, as the target seemed too low for a 50-over game on a track that was supposed to get better for batting as the match progressed.
Nonetheless, the T20 World Cup final has produced the highest-ever total in a final in the history of the marquee tournament. This was also the first time that a team posted a 200-plus total in a T20 World Cup final. BlackCaps bowler Matt Henry believes that the Indians have scored a little more than what the pitch offers in the second innings, and that can hurt them a little during the run chase.
"Would've liked to keep them below 240, but got the firepower to put them under pressure. With the way they like pace coming onto the ball, the plan was to take pace off but they combated it very well. The way we managed to squeeze it back in the middle phase, we're not quite out of this," Henry said between innings.
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