Black Caps will face hosts India in T20 World Cup final

Friday, 6 March 2026

The Black Caps will meet defending champions, hosts and title favourites India in the T20 World Cup final.

India advanced to Monday morning’s (NZ time) showdown in Ahmedabad with a high-scoring win over England in the second semifinal in Mumbai on Friday morning.

Batting first, India made a staggering 253-7 in their 20 overs, led by 89 from 42 balls by opener Sanju Samson.

That seemed plenty to register a comfortable win, but a brilliant 105 from 48 balls from Jacob Bethell kept England in the contest, eventually succumbing by seven runs in a match which produced 34 sixes.

England rued a costly dropped catch by Harry Brook, when Samson was on 15.

New Zealand grabbed their place in the final with a nine-wicket thumping of the 2024 World Cup runners-up South Africa the previous day in Kolkata.

Opener Finn Allen was the star performer, racing to an unbeaten century in just 33 balls - a record for a T20 World Cup game.

T20 World Cup semifinal, Mumbai: India 253-7 (Sanju Samson 89 from 42 balls, Shivam Dube 43 from 25) beat England 246-7 (Jacob Bethell 105 from 48 balls, Will Jacks 35 from 20) by seven runs.