Page 3 - Latest Updates on ICC T20 World Cup

IND vs NZ final: Will India drop Abhishek and Chakravarthy today?

Among the key talking points are the form of opening batter Abhishek Sharma and whether spinner Varun Chakaravarthy should retain his place in the playing XI for the title clash.

What happened when Team India last faced New Zealand in an ICC final?

On March 9, 2025, India, led by Rohit Sharma, chased down a massive target of 252 set by New Zealand, winning by four wickets to lift the Champions Trophy.

West Asia crisis: South Africa, West Indies to leave India on Tuesday

The delays have been attributed to restricted or closed airspace in parts of West Asia, which disrupted flight planning and caused logistical complications for several teams.

T20 WC: IND vs ENG semifinal shatters record for most-streamed T20I match

The India-England contest generated 619 million views on JioHotstar, making it the most-streamed T20 International in history

Stats alert: Indian batters and bowlers' performance in T20 World Cup 2026

Varun Chakaravarthy has been India's standout bowler with 13 wickets in eight innings, making him the joint highest wicket-taker in the tournament

T20 WC final, IND-NZ: 3,000 cops, anti-drone systems deployed in Ahmedabad

Over 3,000 police personnel, around 1,000 home guards, and three anti-drone systems will be deployed for security during the India-New Zealand T20 World Cup final to be played in Ahmedabad on Sunday, police said. Addressing reporters ahead of the contest, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik said on Saturday that elaborate security arrangements have been put in place. "Tomorrow, a historic T20 World Cup final is going to be held here at the Narendra Modi Stadium. For this, all preparations have been completed by the police. For the security arrangements, we are deploying over 3,000 police personnel and around 1,000 home guards," he said. Malik said additional safety measures have been introduced this time to prevent overcrowding or any untoward incidents near the stadium gates. "This time, we have set up holding areas near Gate 1 and 2, slightly towards the main road, to prevent any possibility of a stampede. Although such an incident has never happened here, we have set this up

Air India Express, Akasa add flights to Ahmedabad for T20 World Cup final

Air India Express and Akasa Air on Friday announced that they will operate special flights to Ahmedabad, providing more travel options to the city for the T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand on March 8. "To facilitate cricket fans travelling to witness the final, the airline will operate additional flights to Ahmedabad from Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. These flights have been scheduled in response to the sharp increase in demand for travel to the city as fans across the country plan to attend the highly anticipated match," Air India Express said in a release. The airline also said it continues to closely monitor booking trends and might consider further capacity enhancements based on demand. Akasa Air will operate special direct flights between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on March 8 and 9, complementing its existing network between the two cities. "SkyLights will illuminate the cabin with the colours of the Indian tricolour, leveraging the dynamic lighting featur

India-NZ T20 World Cup final play means business for eateries, pubs

Restaurants and pubs expect higher footfall as India faces New Zealand in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final, while hotel bookings in Ahmedabad surge and room rates edge up

Richard Illingworth, Alex Wharf to umpire T20 World Cup 2026 final

Illingworth will officiate his second consecutive T20 World Cup final after previously standing in the 2024 summit clash alongside Chris Gaffaney.

T20 WC: How Suryakumar has fared so far in his maiden ICC event as captain

If India beat New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026 final, Surya will become only the third Indian captain after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni to win an ICC title as an Indian skipper in his debut tournament

T20 WC: Spin or pace, what should be India's go-to approach for final vs NZ

While India rarely tinkers with its playing 11, adding an extra pacer in the squad for the New Zealand game can be a wise choice

T20 WC 2026: Unbelievable feeling, Suryakumar on India reaching final

Captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted that his heart beating rate shot up to "160-175" during the tense closing stages of the semifinal as India edged past England to enter their second successive T20 World Cup final here on Thursday. Defending champions India defeated England by seven runs in a high-scoring semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium. "It's an unbelievable feeling. Obviously, playing in India, leading such a wonderful side, and with the World Cup happening here, going to Ahmedabad to play that final. I think it's a special feeling for all the boys," Suryakumar said during the post-match presentation. "Was very nervous, heart rate would've been 160-175," he added. Sent in to bat, opener Samson blasted seven sixes and eight fours on his way to a 42-ball 89 as India posted a challenging 253. Shivam Dube (43), Ishan Kishan (39), Hardik Pandya (27) and Tilak Varma (21) also chipped in with brisk knocks. "I think he knew what he wanted to do as soon as he went in to bat. Even when

Harry Brook lauds India's batting depth, calls Jasprit Bumrah the best

England captain Harry Brook described Jasprit Bumrah as the "best of all time at the minute" after the India pace spearhead squeezed a tight over with a barrage of accurate yorkers towards the fag end of the T20 World Cup semifinal, which the co-hosts won by seven runs here. Brook said it's tough to beat India as they also have some extremely good batters "coming out of everywhere". Defending champions India piled up a record 253/7, thanks to a stunning 42-ball 89 from Sanju Samson, before restricting England to 246 for 7 for a seven-run win in the T20 World Cup semifinal here Thursday night. Bumrah returned with figures of 1/33 from his four overs. "Yeah, it's tough. They just have batsmen coming out of everywhere. They've got some extremely good players (and) they're clean ball-strikers. If you miss, you go for (a) six or (a) four," Brook told the media after the match. "Unfortunately, we didn't probably execute as well as we could have done and that's cost us slightly alongside

T20 WC: Samson hails Bumrah, dedicates Player of the Match award

Hailing him as a true generational talent, Sanju Samson dedicated his Player of the Match award to Jasprit Bumrah following the pacer's stellar performance in India's T20 World Cup semifinal victory over England on a batting paradise here on Thursday. On a day when every bowler was smashed around the Wankhede Stadium, Bumrah stood out with exceptional figures of 1/33 in four overs while turning the match India's way with his special show towards the end. Samson, who laid the foundation for India's massive total of 253/7 with his 42-ball 89, said the award belonged to Bumrah, without whose magnificent bowling the wicketkeeper-batter wouldn't be "standing here" in the first place. "All credit goes to Bumrah, I think the world class bowler, a true once in a generation player. I think that's what he delivered today. I think this award should go to him actually. "I think if we didn't bowl that way in the death overs, I think I would not be standing here. All credit goes to the bowlers,

Samson: I was trying too much in NZ series to get into T20 WC eleven

Opener Sanju Samson on Thursday conceded that the thought of cementing his place in India's playing 11 for the T20 World Cup forced him to overreach in the preceding home T20I series against New Zealand, leading to a string of low-scores. Samson misfired against the Kiwis, as Ishan Kishan overtook him and opened with Abhishek Sharma initially in the ongoing T20 World Cup. But the Kerala batter brought back to break the sequence of left-handers in the eleven, and he rewarded the management with two half-centuries in a row, with the latest being a fluent match-winning 89 off only 42 balls against England here in the semifinals. "I think that was very challenging for me. I definitely wanted to come and do what I am trying to do now for the country, contribute and win games in the (T20) World Cup," Samson, who had also made an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in the previous match, told reporters in the pre-match press meet. "But I think I was trying a bit too much in the New Zealan

T20 WC: Sanju Samson targets another match-winning effort in final

Sanju Samson is relieved to have produced two superlative innings to carry India into the final of the T20 World Cup, but he is not done yet and aims to play another match-winning knock to help India win the trophy for a record third time. Samson, who had lost his spot in the Indian team due to lack of runs not long ago, has come back roaring with scores of 97 not out in a virtual knockout against the West Indies followed by 89 against England in the semifinal, especially when Abhishek Sharma is going through a lean patch. Samson said while he is grateful, his toil must help the defending champions India lift yet another title with a win over New Zealand in the summit clash on Sunday in Ahmedabad. "It feels really great or relieved that I have been actually, from (a) few years, trying to do something like this for my country," Samson told reporters after India beat England by seven runs in the second semifinal here Thursday night. "(I was) just waiting with lot of patience, lot of

Varun still India's 'X-factor', says Axar Patel despite recent struggles

The mystery seems to have unravelled and though his teammates still consider Varun Chakravarthy the 'X-factor', the leg-spinner knows that he is racing against time to arrest what has been a stunning slide. The world's top-ranked bowler would be a weak link for India going into the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand on Sunday if the team management chooses to persist with him. The steady dip in his form since the Super Eight phase of the tournament can't be brushed aside and Chakravarthy would need to clear the doubts in his mind after being taken to the cleaners in the business end of the tournament. The hammering he received at the hands of England swashbuckler Jacob Bethell on Thursday night in a narrow seven-run win for India could well prove to be the last straw. India vice-captain Axar Patel has had conversations with Chakravarthy of late and stressed on the importance of sticking to plans even when things are not going one's way. "We have talked about it (about ...

ICC organises charter flight for West Indies cricket team stuck in Kolkata

According to reports, the team will soon travel home on a chartered flight that will route through London.

What is the highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history

What is the highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history

T20 WC final: Ricky Martin to perform at 5:30 PM at Narendra Modi Stadium

Known for his high-energy stage presence and global hits, Martin's performance is anticipated to transform the stadium atmosphere into a concert-like spectacle before the title clash begins.