Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma delivered a stunning performance in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. The opening pair tore into the Kiwi bowlers, adding 98 runs in the powerplay and setting the stage for India’s commanding total of 255/5.
India then bowled New Zealand out for 159, winning by 96 runs and securing their third T20 World Cup title. They became the first team to successfully defend the crown and win as host nation.
Samson lauded his opening partner, describing their chemistry as effortless and perfectly balanced. He said their combination is not like ice and fire, but rather fire and fire—with each player taking turns to dominate the attack.
“We are not ice and fire, we are fire and fire. Sometimes he fires, sometimes I do. That’s our kind of combination. We’ve been doing this since 2024 and we share a Kerala-Punjabi friendship in the middle. Everything comes naturally, so we don’t overcomplicate it. He asks me how the ball is coming, I tell him it’s coming fine, and he hits a six. It’s really simple with him. Abhishek is very brave and composed. I love his character and truly enjoy our partnership on and off the field,” Samson said at the India Today Conclave.
Samson himself made a remarkable comeback in the tournament, overcoming inconsistency and time on the bench to become India’s leading run-scorer. He delivered clutch performances from the virtual quarterfinal against West Indies through to the final, scoring 321 runs in five innings at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37, including 27 fours and 24 sixes. He finished as the third-highest run-scorer overall.
