Legendary India captain MS Dhoni arrived in Ahmedabad on Sunday ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 final between India and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
India's ICC titles under Dhoni's captaincy
Dhoni, who famously led India to the first-ever T20 World Cup title in 2007 and later the ODI World Cup in 2011, is expected to witness the India vs New Zealand final from the stands. The current Indian side, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will be aiming to defend their T20 World Cup crown.
India on verge of creating history
If India manages to win the final, they will become the first team in history to defend the ICC T20 World Cup title successfully. Playing the final at home, in front of a packed stadium, will certainly give the team extra motivation. However, New Zealand are known for stepping up in big tournaments and will not be an easy opponent.
Interestingly, past meetings between the two teams in T20 World Cups favour the Kiwis. New Zealand have won all three of their previous T20 World Cup clashes against India.
India's journey to the final
India had a strong run to the final. They topped Group A after beating Pakistan, USA, the Netherlands and Namibia. In the Super 8 stage, India finished second in Group 1, which helped them secure a place in the semi-finals. There, they defeated England in a thrilling contest to book their spot in the title clash.
New Zealand's journey to the final
New Zealand’s journey has also been impressive. They finished second in Group D behind South Africa after wins against Afghanistan, UAE and Canada. In the Super 8s, they again ended second in Group 2 with a win over Sri Lanka, a draw against Pakistan and a loss to England. Despite that, the Black Caps produced a dominant performance in the semi-final, comfortably beating South Africa to reach the final.
New Zealand ended their long wait for an ICC trophy when they won the ICC World Test Championship Final 2021 by defeating India. Now, the Black Caps will be eager to add a limited-overs World Cup to their cabinet.