India national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team are set to face off in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 5, 2026. Playing on home soil, India will aim to secure their third T20 World Cup title, while New Zealand will be chasing their maiden crown in the tournament. The final also brings renewed focus on India’s challenging record against the Black Caps in T20 World Cups. Despite India’s strong overall record in T20 internationals, the Men in Blue have yet to defeat New Zealand in the tournament’s history.
In the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, India eventually lifted the trophy, but their only defeat in the tournament came against New Zealand during the Super 8 stage.
When the teams met in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2016 in India, expectations were high for the hosts on a turning pitch. Instead, New Zealand’s spin bowlers took control of the contest. Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi shared key wickets as India were bowled out for 79 while chasing 127. New Zealand won that match by 47 runs.
The most recent meeting came during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021, when the teams faced off in an important group-stage match. New Zealand’s bowling attack, led by Trent Boult and Sodhi, restricted India to 110 for 7. New Zealand then chased the target comfortably to win by eight wickets.
Despite past results, India enters the final after a strong campaign and a semifinal victory over England. New Zealand advanced by defeating South Africa in its semifinal.
The championship match presents an opportunity for India to overturn its historical record against New Zealand on the World Cup stage and retain the T20 title.