It took six overs for India to announce their intentions and the rest of the evening to execute them. A powerplay score of 92 for no loss — equalling the World Cup record — was the foundation upon which a 255-run total was built, and from which a 96-run victory over New Zealand was secured. India retained the T20 World Cup and made history in the process.
The powerplay was the centerpiece of India’s batting performance, but it was by no means the only highlight. Sharma, Samson, and Kishan all reached fifty — the first three to do so in just 18, 33, and 23 balls respectively. At 191 for one in the 14th over, the only question was whether India could reach 300. A middle-overs wobble, including Neesham’s baffling one-run, three-wicket over, settled the total at 255.
New Zealand’s challenge was to replicate what their openers had done in the semi-final, where Finn Allen’s 33-ball century had helped them build a match-winning platform against South Africa. Allen managed nine in the final. Without his electricity, New Zealand’s batting had no real power source, and the innings stuttered to 159 all out.
Bumrah was the difference with the ball, three wickets delivered with slow yorkers of frightening accuracy. Two dropped catches from Dube and Pandya were the only blots on an otherwise exceptional fielding display. Even Kishan’s bizarre catch of Ravindra — launched, collided, lost, and then miraculously held between chin and arm — went India’s way.
India’s final performance was as close to perfection as a cricket match allows. The trophy, lifted by Suryakumar in front of 100,000 roaring fans, was the culmination of a tournament India dominated from the first over to the last.