India's three-mendous victory

Samson and Bumrah run riot, bag honours

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India players celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2026 ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup final match against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.

(AFP)

White-ball behemoth India etched their name deeper into cricketing history on Sunday as the first side to lift the men's Twenty20 World Cup for a third time with a ruthless demolition of New Zealand in a lopsided final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

More than 86,000 predominantly Indian supporters packed into the world's largest cricket ground did not get a nail-biter, but they left elated as the hosts cantered to a 96-run victory with almost comical ease — becoming the first team to retain the title in the process.

The victory will taste particularly sweet for India since it came at a venue where they were beaten by Australia in the final of the 50-overs World Cup three years ago.

India were in the box seat after each of their top three batters hammered blistering half-centuries, propelling the total to a mammoth 255-5.