• Match: India vs New Zealand( IND vs NZ ), Final Match, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026
• Date and Time: March 8,  01:30 pm GMT / 07:30 pm BD / 07:00 pm local time
• Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

New Zealand
India

India( IND ) is set to face New Zealand( NZ ) in their Final match during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. This match is scheduled to take place at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, March 8.

India edged past England in their previous match, winning by a narrow margin of seven runs. After losing the toss, they were asked to bat first and responded with an impressive batting display, piling up 253 runs in their 20 overs.

Sanju Samson was the standout performer, smashing 89 runs off just 42 balls, including eight fours and seven sixes. Shivam Dube also played a valuable knock, scoring 43 runs from 25 balls with one boundary and four sixes.

Ishan Kishan contributed 39 runs, while Hardik Pandya added 27 runs to help India reach a massive total.

India’s bowling unit struggled somewhat while defending the target but ultimately held their nerve. England managed 246 runs in their 20 overs, falling just short of the target. Hardik Pandya was the most effective bowler for India, picking up two wickets for 38 runs in four overs. Jasprit Bumrah also chipped in with one wicket for 33 runs in his four-over spell.

Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel took one wicket each, while Shivam Dube was the only bowler who went wicketless.

New Zealand national cricket team delivered a dominant performance in their previous match, defeating South Africa national cricket team by nine wickets.

After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, New Zealand’s bowlers did a solid job, restricting South Africa to 169 runs in 20 overs. Rachin Ravindra was the most successful bowler, taking two wickets for 29 runs in his four overs. Matt Henry also impressed with two wickets for 34 runs.

Cole McConchie picked up two wickets, while Lockie Ferguson and James Neesham claimed one wicket each. Captain Mitchell Santner was the only bowler who went wicketless.

New Zealand’s batting lineup then made light work of the chase, reaching the 170-run target in just 12.5 overs. Finn Allen produced a stunning innings, remaining unbeaten on 100 runs off only 33 balls, smashing ten fours and eight sixes.

Tim Seifert also played a strong knock, scoring 58 runs from 33 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes, while Rachin Ravindra stayed not out on 13 runs to guide the team home comfortably.

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

New Zealand: Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner(c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson.

India: W, L, W, W, W
New Zealand: W, NR, W, L, W

We’re hoping the team wins the toss and chooses to bowl first.

The pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad is generally known to be batting-friendly, especially in limited-overs cricket. It offers good pace and consistent bounce, allowing batters to play their shots freely once they get set. Fast bowlers can find some assistance early on with the new ball, particularly through carry and bounce, but this support tends to fade quickly. As the match progresses, the surface usually remains true, making it easier for batters to accelerate and post big totals. Spinners may get some grip if they vary their pace and hit the right areas, but the pitch does not offer significant turn. Overall, it is a venue where strong batting lineups often thrive, and bowlers need discipline and smart variations to stay in the contest.

The weather at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 8 at 07:00 PM local time is expected to be pleasant and ideal for cricket. The temperature during the evening should hover around 24–26°C with clear to partly cloudy skies. Humidity levels are likely to remain moderate at around 30–40%, while a light breeze may blow across the ground at 8–12 km/h. Rain is highly unlikely at this time of the year, so the chances of any interruption are minimal. As the match progresses into the night, a bit of dew could develop, which might help the batting side and make things slightly challenging for bowlers, particularly spinners. Overall, the conditions look excellent for a full and uninterrupted game of cricket.

• Batting-Friendly Surface: The pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium usually offers good bounce and pace, allowing batters to play their shots freely in T20 matches.
• Powerplay Advantage: Teams often score quickly in the first six overs because the ball comes nicely onto the bat.
• Dew Factor: Evening matches in Ahmedabad frequently see dew in the second innings, which makes bowling difficult and favors the chasing side.
• Big Ground Dimensions: The large square boundaries mean spinners and smart pace variations can still control the scoring in middle overs.
• Final Pressure: In a high-pressure final between India national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team, teams may start cautiously before accelerating later.