India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Record: Sanju Samson continued his impressive run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scoring his third consecutive half-century during the final against the New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter reached his fifty in 33 balls, becoming the seventh batter in the tournament’s history to register three scores of 50 or more in a single edition.
Samson entered the final in strong form after scoring an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies cricket team and an 89 against England in the semifinal.
With his latest knock, Samson also joined an exclusive list of players to score half-centuries in both the semifinal and final of a T20 World Cup. Only Virat Kohli and Shahid Afridi had previously achieved the feat.
Samson eventually fell for 89 runs off 46 deliveries after being caught by substitute fielder Cole McConchie off the bowling of James Neesham.
The dismissal came in the 16th over when Neesham delivered a full toss outside off stump. Samson attempted to loft the ball but failed to time it properly, allowing McConchie to complete a running catch at long-on. Despite his dismissal, Samson’s attacking innings, which included five fours and eight sixes, provided India with a strong platform in the T20 World Cup final.
