India thrash New Zealand for World Cup glory

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This one's it now. This could be interesting. It's been taken. Has it? Yes, he's completed the catch, has Tilak Varma, and Abhishek Sharma takes the last wicket. My God, what India have won! First time defend a T20 Men's ICC Trophy, and the third star will go up on those jerseys. Wild celebrations.

So India become the first side to win back-to-back T20 World Cups. In the men's game, the first side to win the title on home soil. And wild celebrations here in Ahmedabad for unquestionably the best team in the tournament, the best team in T20 cricket internationally. And they rightly can celebrate at a ground where there was heartbreak in the 50-over World Cup in 2023. That has been replaced by jubilation after a dominant win over New Zealand. Asked to bat first, India 255 for 5, and in the end, after 19 overs of a brave but ultimately futile run chase, New Zealand all out for 159, falling 96 runs short against this brilliant and outstanding unit of Indian cricketers who rightfully will be lifting a trophy that they can say they deserve. They're the best team in the world, and they've proved it against New Zealand in a World Cup final in front of 100,000 here in Ahmedabad. Alongside me, Ash's winning fast bowler Stephen Finn, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, former IPL star as well. And Abhishek, incredible scenes out there. India flags everywhere you look. Celebrations for an India side that have been brilliant in this tournament.

Well, they have been. I'm just a bit worried it might take you a few hours to just try and get out of the stadium, Henry. It's just going to be absolute carnage. It's going to be mayhem on the roads. There'll be traffic all over. But the thing is, for me, what's really impressive— to have that kind of expectation and then to fulfill that expectation takes a lot of courage, especially in home conditions against your home supporters. So give this team a lot of credit for, you know, going out there and soaking up all that pressure and delivering. But what a performance in the last 2 or 3 games since they had to win against West Indies. They put up a brilliant performance there against England, again a massive total, 254, and 255 tonight. Yeah, they've really played— they played like champions. They deserve all, all the credit.

I think they have. Unquestionably proven over the course of the last couple of matches, Steven, that though England ran them close, this is an India side that is just a little bit better, and in the final, a lot better than those around them.

Well, they, they have depth, don't they? I think the remarkable thing about Indian cricket, and especially T20 because of the IPL, is just the depth. And if one person is not performing, there is someone else who will come in and take your place and do just as good as you, if not better. So it keeps you on your toes, which breeds a healthy team environment to keep pushing yourselves forward. And then they have trump cards as well, and, and the biggest trump card of them all that we've lauded today, Jasprit Bumrah, um, is always weighed into equations when teams are trying to chase runs or set, um, that there's a degree of respect given to his 4 overs, which means that you then have to go extra hard against the others. So yeah, they seem to have every base covered. There's so much to like about the India team in terms of the diversity of skills that they have across the players. And yeah, I think it's not a huge thing to say they were the strongest team in this tournament, they were the favorites, and it's not a surprise they've won.

How much pressure would they have felt coming into this game, Abhishek, given what happened against Australia in the final of the 50-over World Cup a couple of years ago on this ground, of course?

Oh, huge. And also just the sheer pressure of the final. And again, in the back of the performance New Zealand had against, uh, South Africa, the way they won that game, that would also have created a lot of pressure. But just playing in home condition in front of 120,000 people, 1.4 billion people in India expecting, 1.5 billion people expecting them to win, you know, it's not easy to go out there and perform the way they have.

I've got two extraordinary players with me, right?

Let's get some reaction.

Harsha Bhogle, let's start with you, Abhishek.

He's alongside Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarty.

Why is this happening to me? Can I be there on the big day?

I mean, of course, but the one thing was very clear. I wanted to share before as well, but today was the best day to, you know, tell about this thing that the coach and the captain, they had the faith in me. And, you know, even I was doubting myself because it wasn't easy tournament for me. I've never experienced this before. But still playing the first World Cup, everyone was so, so much into me that you're going to win one game, one big game, one big game. So I was just, you know, doing my process. But it wasn't that easy as a young player, or probably you just been one or two years in the Indian team and then, you know, going through this phase. But I think I just love this team, the way they treated me in those days. It was— I've never felt it before.

And the two of you have such beautiful stories. Varun, You're a World Cup winner. Tell me about the feeling.

Feels amazing, uh, two back-to-back ICC trophies, and it feels very surreal. I'm very happy for Abhishek. He was able to score today, and he used to sit next to me and we used to have good time.

Yeah, tell us about the conversations you used to have.

We used to keep changing seats. We are like, what's happening? Nothing is working out for us. And finally we have won the cup, so everything is Zero doubt.

Yeah, you've had quite a journey yourself. How does it feel now to be standing up on something that must have been a dream for you?

I mean, I've told you before as well, it wasn't that easy for me because, um, you know, going through the whole year you've been doing well for the team, and especially on the big occasion I wasn't able to do well. But the faith and the confidence I think players and support staff and coaches showed on me, I think I got emotional in between the tournament as well because if you see that I wanted to do really well for in the all the games probably, but I couldn't. But then I was like, I wanted to talk to coach or captain. They always wanted to come to me and just say one thing, you are, you're going to win us the big games. And I just wanted to wait for that day, and you can't ask for the better day for this.

Well done, overjoyed for, for the two of you.

We will get plenty more reaction as we go through the remainder of the program. Uh, looking back at this game and, uh, the tournament more broadly, But wild celebrations. And Abhishek, I love that interview there with, uh, with Abhishek Sharma alongside Viren Chakravarty, because actually hearing from players for whom the tournament hasn't gone particularly well at times— 3 ducks for Sharma, Chakravarty's been expensive— but actually a real insight into what makes this Indian team tick.

Well, absolutely. I think first of all, it feels like it's a very healthy atmosphere, and I think a lot of credit goes to Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir to create that atmosphere around the players where they speak so highly about the captain and the coach. And, and that's so important, especially when the players are down and out, they're not performing. It's so, so important for that, for the captain and the coach to have that regular conversation and keep giving them the confidence which he spoke about, that even when I was not performing, they kept telling me that I'm going to win them one big match. And luckily for them, it came in the finals. And what more can you ask for? From Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarty. And these two were the players the whole of India was looking, looking up to, because you expected both of these players to win a lot more matches than they did in this World Cup, because they came in with such good form. Varun Chakravarty bowled exceptionally well against New Zealand before the World Cup. Abhishek Sharma had a terrific bilateral series against New Zealand. But then to come out and not perform at the level they were expecting, and then to finally get that performance in the final. Yeah, that must have made them a lot happier.

Yeah, wonderful scenes out there at the moment with thousands of people, including Prakash Wakanko of our team, who's wearing an enormous bib that actually is— to get him onto the field, it's almost down below his knees. As you see, he makes quite— it's quite a vision out there. In the distance. Stephen, it does sound like a very healthy team environment, and it's easier when you're winning, but it hasn't been quite as straightforward as it might have been in this tournament for India.

No, and that's probably been a good thing for them. I think you have— if you kept on your toes throughout the group stage and you don't play perfect games all the way through, I think it battle-hardens you to then get to the back end of the tournament and be ruthless when you need to. The two teams that spring to mind when you think of them serenely making their way through is India in the 2023 50-over World Cup. Serenely made their way without challenge all the way through to the final and then lost in the face of, um, Australia. Uh, and then South Africa in this tournament, they, they had a scare, didn't they, against Afghanistan where it went to 2 super overs. Um, but outside of that game, they, they swept past everyone in, in front of them, and then New Zealand gave them a thumping in the semi. So, um, to have done it the slightly harder way, I think, served India well and, uh, meant that when they had their opportunity in these two knockout games, they weren't going to not make the most of batting first. And to post 250 twice in important games is quite something.

Yeah, well, it's, it's a rare thing to do it once, but to do it in back-to-back matches, in knockout matches— 19 fours 18 sixes. They were looking at 300 at one point. Abhishek, after 15 overs, they were 203 for 1. It, it was an astonishing blitz of batting that almost felt like they came out here tonight and thought, do you know what, actually, this is our time, this is our moment. We've been described as the GOAT team, the greatest of all time. This is absolutely when we prove it.

Yeah, 100%. I think And it also proves that it wasn't easy for the new batters to just rock in there and start hitting the ball from the very first delivery. So Sanju Samson, we talk about Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma, the way they gave that launch pad to the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube, that was so, so crucial for them to get to that total in this game. Because if India lost a couple of early wickets, things could have been very different, uh, from, uh, from the runs perspective. So it just shows that You know, even in this format, it's so important for batters to understand that and just give themselves that extra bit of time, because all of them got that talent, that power to hit those boundaries which you spoke about. 18 sixes, I mean, that's ridiculous amount of sixes in just one innings. It's pretty much a six every over.

Yeah, it was outrageous hitting, it really was. And actually started quite slowly. In the innings with the first couple of overs feeling quite timid. I mean, the fact that they scored more runs in a T20 on this ground in a final than they did in the final of the 50-over a couple of years ago tells its own story. There was an email into the TMS inbox, Stephen, that said, well, who stands a chance of beating this India side? Yeah, England got close, but they do feel streets ahead.

Yeah, they— and And it's the depth, I think. It's just the fact that it's not just a couple of people that they rely on to project themselves towards those scores. It could be any one of 5 or 6 batters that, that get them there. And that's the thing that makes a T20 team like this so dangerous is that the power just keeps on coming and coming and coming. And there's absolutely no doubt that the IPL is the reason for that. It's the premier T20 tournament. In the world. You have to fight your way into these franchises and you have to be good enough to sustain a career in it. And I think that that sets you up well to go into international cricket and, and hit the ground running. It's almost like the Harlem Globetrotters having a team in a World Cup, isn't it? They're, they're just the best of the best. And yeah, it's been remarkable to watch these, these last two games. The semi-final and the final.

What was that team, the, uh, US basketball team at the Olympics in '96? The Dream Team. It was just a sort of inevitable path towards the title. Yeah, it's not quite like that for India, who, who lost heavily here against South Africa and easily, uh, well, not quite easily, but could have lost to England in the semi-final. Uh, right, there goes some, um, sparklers. I actually think that somebody's released a, uh, one of the bits of pyrotechnics a little bit early there because they're setting up the stage and some orange and green smoke bombs have just gone up and rather randomly as well. So I'm not sure that was necessarily quite at the appointed moment, but there we go. I'm not sure we're going to be short of fairly expansive and extensive fireworks and pyrotechnics quite soon. Right, as we see more and more bits of the stage arriving and the crowd go up again as they see their heroes wandering towards, uh, where the presentation will take place. What about the tournament more broadly, Abhishek? And has this been a vintage T20 World Cup?

I've enjoyed the T20 World Cup because first of all, I, I, I quite like the fact that it's 20 teams and you get to see so many players from the associate nations, which makes it so, so special. And also you see that gap closing in with the associate nation as full playing nations. And, and you know that cricket is in a very good place. And in the next 3 or 4 years, we'll probably see some of these smaller nations really competing hard against the likes of India, England, Australia, New Zealand. And which is, which is fascinating. And that's, that's exactly what we want to see, that more and more countries take up the sport. And the cricket truly is a global sport now, that, but the reach is even more and even bigger.

Yeah, it does feel like a tournament, Stephen, where that message has been emphasized, that a broader tournament with teams taking part is, is a better one. USA came close against India, uh, we saw Nepal very nearly beating England way back when at the start of the tournament. You and I were there in Mumbai, and so there is a, a real sense that this has been a good tournament for that message.

Absolutely. I've, I've really enjoyed that group stage and the jeopardy that comes with that group stage. Lose a game and, um, lose a game against one of the stronger teams, identify the player of the match.

Right then, here's Ian Bishop with the player of the match, Jasprit Bumrah.

Inevitably, congratulations to Jasprit. What does this win generally of another World Cup mean to you?

Oh, feels extremely special because, uh, I've played one final at my home venue and, you know, couldn't win that one, but this one feels really special. I was really motivated, I was really clear, I knew what I wanted to do. The wicket was a flat one, so I've played all my cricket here, so I used all my experience. Today was a wonderful day where all the execution went as per plan. So yeah, really happy, really grateful. God is really kind.

From a tournament perspective, you bowl some of the toughest overs to start, occasionally in the middle, and at the back end. Give us an insight into your mindset and your character and your planning in approaching this.

Uh, so before this, before this tournament, I was, uh, in that zone where I felt I was trying too hard because I was bowling really well, but some way or the other I was feeling that maybe I'm trying too hard. But in this format, I let the game come to me. I was clear. I used to prepare and then read the situation and believe in myself. That is what I tried to do in this tournament, and it worked really well for me. So Yeah, my individual assessment of my game has always been my strength. So yeah, um, couldn't be really happy. I couldn't be, uh, couldn't be special than this, uh, to win, um, Man of the Match here, World Cup final. Started my cricket here, doesn't get better than this.

And to top that off with your best figures in T20Is, that, that must be the icing on the cake.

That I was not aware of, but really happy to close off on the win.

With regards to your slower ball and when you bowl it, you got Harry Brook with a the first ball of your spell. You got another wicket today with the first ball, Rachin Ravindra. What is it that I suppose dictates when you use that?

Because of the experience, because I've played on belters over here. I have also seen the other team, how they were bowling. I have learned over here, when you are trying to bowl too fast, it gets easier, shot making gets easier, sometimes the ball skips on. So keep being smart, keep changing your pace. You know, and expecting what the batsman is trying to do. So all of these things really help you, and clarity while execution also helps.

Just a final word on the rest of the bowling group that operated around you and you leading them.

Oh, it was really wonderful. Everybody is very clear. Uh, whenever we've discussed, they always come up with their options, and whenever there's some communication that is to be needed, we always did that. We kept calm, we were never panicking, even if and Sometimes in the tournament the games got close like the last one. We never panicked. We always felt that we'll keep our head above the water and try to hold our nerve. Teams that do that win the tournament, and we're very happy that we did it.

And good grief, you say you know this ground well, but this crowd here must be special.

It's really, really special. The crowd was really brilliant. They were behind us, they supported us throughout, and yeah, really, really happy and really thankful for all the support.

Thank you very much for your time and Congratulations. Cheers.

Thank you.

Thought so.

Jasprit Bumrah, Player of the Match and leading wicket-taker in the tournament as well. Now there's going to be a fairly extensive presentation where all sorts of people are mentioned and sponsors are discussed and one thing and another, and, and so we may just dip in and out of that, I think it's fair to say. But I'm pleased to report that safely back in the commentary box after his adventures on the outfield Prakash Wakanka is back alongside me. Prakash, take us down there. How's it out in front of 100,000?

Well, it's crazy. It's crazy. I mean, I don't know how the players handle all that. This was not even a screaming crowd, Henry. They were just enjoying what was going on. It's just overwhelming. You go down there and you feel like, you know, every eye, every pair of eyes is on you. It's a magnificent sight. The, the sort of gathering of the players, both the Kiwi and the Indian players, on either side of where the presentation will happen is quite remarkable. You could see tears of joy in, in the eyes of a few players. I think the expressions on Suryakumar's face were even brighter, his smile was wider. I think Jasprit Bumrah and his wife, who's of course here as a— in her own capacity as a presenter. They were together as well. Lots of Indian flags, lots of the office bearers, the— this chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, Sunil Gavaskar walking down, just reminding everyone that he promised he'd dance if India won. So at some point there will be a little dance or a gig.

Well, we can look forward to that somewhere.

But yes, generally a relaxed atmosphere, and to see how many people have stayed back obviously is for what is going to come in terms of the final presentation and so on.

Indeed. I know that 2023 will, will still hurt so many that were involved that day, but how much of a salve is this, that to come back to the same venue with all of the worries and concerns about history repeating itself, but to be so dominant?

Yes, I think, I think without question that will help to— well, what's the right word? I think you will used the word salve. Yes, I think it will be somewhat of a salve. It will not be a redemption because what happened then will continue to rankle with those who missed out, none more than I think someone like Rahul Dravid. He got his redemption in some ways in Barbados last time around, but I think for those players who will be thinking back at the moment, that will not be a factor. But I think more importantly, Indians being as superstitious as we are, The fact that this ground was jinxed, I think, will now be put away, at least for some time. And good or bad, I think you'll see some bigger events happening here in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

It's often said, Abhishek, that cricket is a religion in India, and it feels a bit of a— I don't know, a bit of a cliché that people sort of lean on. But to India as a country, as proud and as cricket-loving as this. I mean, it is huge when their national side wins a World Cup.

I think it's all about that. I mean, we— yeah, I think we give far too much importance to the IPL. Yes, people love IPL. India loves IPL. It's another— it's like a Diwali in India when IPL is on. But I didn't think— for still, for the supporters and for the fans, for the real fans of India, there's nothing bigger than India winning these ICC events. And that's, that's what every player play for as Yes, you can have 5 IPL trophies, but nothing beats a World Cup. So if you ask the like of Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, everything they play is to win trophies for India. So I think the emotions are completely different, and, and that's, that's what you look for when you look at Indian cricket.

Yeah, Prakash, it's a really good point, that, isn't it? That for all your IPLs and everything else and the glitz and the glamour, representing your country does It does do something different.

It absolutely does. And I think there's a lovely phrase that I know a colleague of mine who I won't mention, but in the corporate context for some job, said something beautiful once. He said, doing it for the flag is very different from doing it for anything or anybody else. And therefore, I think whether it's the IPL, take nothing away from that either, but everything else then pales into insignificance when you're doing it for your country. And yes, I think I entirely agree with what Abhishek said. This will, this will bring euphoria, bring joy to so many millions and billions of people, both in India and outside, wherever there are Indian supporters who love this cricket team.

Yeah, and they do, they really do. It's, it's, it is adoration the like of which you see very seldom in, in any sort of context, really, aside from perhaps, you know, I don't know, Taylor Swift fans, you know, it's that sort of, it's that sort of thing.

I know what you mean, absolutely. I mean, we met, uh, I met someone this morning at the hotel who had flown in last night from Seattle and was going to go back again tomorrow. With everything that's going around in the world, he said there was no way I was going to miss a final. I came here in '23, I saw India lose, I want to see India win, and he will be going back a happy man.

Yeah, well, there's going to be an awful lot of happy supporters and they're still there, not really any empty seats that I can see and you know though bedtime has long since passed, it's gone 11 o'clock here, the stage still being constructed, we'll wait to hear from the captains and the party is about to begin here in Ahmedabad in earnest but those spectators, they're still here, they still want to watch their heroes getting their moment of glory and getting their moment to really just embrace and enjoy, uh, what has been a lot of hard work. Because it's sometimes easy to think that, that these tournaments, you know, it's just T20, it's good fun. But yeah, Stephen Finn, you've captained T20 sides, you know what it takes to, to be successful and to, and to actually get the formulas right.

Yeah, and there's so many people behind the scenes that come into it as well. It's not just the 11 players, it's the support staff, the analysts, the massage therapists, the physios. It's everyone, it's a whole team effort. And to come through a big tournament like this with all the travel that's involved and the pressure, those support staff behind the scenes alleviate a lot of the pressure on the players to allow them to go out there and perform at their absolute best. So yes, the players get the headlines, as they should do, because they're the ones out there making those headlines and the ones who are performing, but that it's a far more, um, nuanced landscape behind the scenes that leads to a team winning a World Cup like this. So credit to everyone that's involved with it, and they're a machine, aren't they? Indian cricket are an absolute machine in white ball cricket in particular. 31 of the last 33 games in ICC tournaments they've won, which is a remarkable record.

It is. And something else remarkable is the drone show that's going on high up above the Narendra Modi Stadium, and it's spelling out the words Team India, or actually just the word team and then the Indian flag. And there must be hundreds of drones up there that are creating a remarkable picture high up above the stadium. And we were promised a drone show. We actually got one in 2023 that also had the India colors on it, but it was a rather different feeling on the outfield that night, it must be said. But there is going to be no question now the chance for all those fans to enjoy that and enjoy their night as well. And, uh, and I think there's no doubt they will do so as, uh, as the India players gather at the far end of the ground. And Prakash, you've been down there, you've been out there. It's an emotional scene.

It is very, very emotional. You can see that. And as Finney was saying You know, every member of that entourage, from whether it's the masseuse, the person who sort of manages the kit, to the ones who do the throwdowns. Of course, the better-known faces of the support staff, Gautam Gambhir himself. By the way, Gautam Gambhir had a big smile on his face, Henry. You should be pleased about that, as you would imagine, the India coach. But reality is that this has been an effort that's been a team effort. I think the one noticeable thing for me in India in this performance through the tournament has been there was very little conscious talk, and in fact efforts to play down any one or two performances beyond the point. It looked like we're in this together, we're going to do this together, win or lose, it's a team effort. And I think that message came through. You look at the top bowlers, batters, six hitters, whatever, there will be very few names. You any in the top 3 or 4 in this tournament were Indians, because it just shows you that everyone has contributed at some stage or the other. And that, I think, says a lot for the way this team has, has evolved.

Yeah, and I think it's a really good point, isn't it? And the way that Sanju Samson seamlessly slotted in at the top of the order has been quite brilliant. The words that we heard from Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarty about how when they were struggling, coach and captain were coming up to them and said, look, you've got one big game in you, and that might be all that we need from you, so just keep on Bronco. And, and actually, that, Abhishek, that, that does feel like the, the mark of champions when you've got that culture.

100%. And what Prakash mentioned, which is so, so true, that if you look at the list of the highest run-getters, apart from Varun Chakravarty, I think he ended up as one of the highest wicket-takers, but Indians are not in the top 3 or the— in those lists. And it just shows that it's been a collective effort, it's been a team effort, and that's what you need. You You need every individual to put their hand up at some point where the team needs you, and that's exactly what this team has done. Whenever the chips were down, somebody came in and, you know, just saved the team or just performed to get this team up and running again. And that just shows the character these players have and what this team is made of.

And this is it, isn't it? It's character and it's characters. And how much credit do you think both Gautam Gambhir as as coach, Prakash, and also Suryakumar Yadav as captain deserve for leading this side?

Well, I mean, those, those are the names, or those are the titles they carry. They carry the responsibility. They face the brickbats, they face the criticism, and God knows, for different reasons, both Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav have copped their share of criticism. So it only goes without saying that all the credit, or at least a large part of the credit, has to go to them. Sudhan Shukla Kohtak, the batting coach, T. Dilip, the fielding coach. He got a lot of flak after that suboptimal fielding performance earlier on in the tournament, but they rose against England. They performed pretty admirably here, and I think all of the support staff, as Finney indicated, deserve all the credit. But Gautam Gambhir, I think, will now say that white ball cricket at least is something that India have at least temporarily mastered, in a manner of speaking. They have won, like you said, 31 out of 33 games in ICC tournaments. Yes, the red ball game is a conversation for another time, but that's challenges there.

Yep, I think we can park that one for tonight, Prakash. Lovely touch actually from the drone show high up above the ground, which is it had a— the outline of a male cricketer shaking hands with a female cricketer, handing over the baton of T20 World Cup ownership, if you like, to, to the Women's T20 World Cup. And now the, uh, the logo reads it starts 12th of June 2026, and indeed it does. England the host for that, and we'll have it all for you on Test Match Special. So, uh, yeah, a nice little nod towards, uh, the next, uh, little phase of things. I mean, what is remarkable now as you look at the last few tournaments that we've seen across ICC events, men's and women's, over the course of the last 12 months, 18 months, New Zealand won that T20 World Cup in the UAE, but otherwise dominated by Indian cricket, men's and women's, which is a rather strong indication of the success and the performances that we've seen from Indian cricket more generally in recent times in white ball cricket, and how much credit should go to everything that is being done in Indian cricket and what they're doing. Now, the drone show I think is reasonably soon coming to an end. There might be a moment or two more, but we're not far away from hearing from the captains. New Zealand and their skipper Mitch Santner, well, it's going to be disappointment again. A 5th ICC final in the space of 11 years, Stephen, and once again they fall short of the final hurdle.

They do. They still deserve credit for being as consistent as they have been in making those finals. They'll be bitterly disappointed that they weren't able to go one better There was a lot stacked against them today. Conditions, the crowd, everything was stacked against them, I think. So they had to play the perfect game. They didn't quite start as well as they'd have liked, and they'll be super disappointed because not to have lifted a trophy in those 5 appearances. They're just going to have to keep plugging away. For the resources that they have, for the population that they have, for the money that they receive, they can continually punch above their weight, and they deserve a lot of credit.

Yeah, they do, and they will get opportunities again, no doubt about that. And there's no question that they are worthy finalists. So their route was a somewhat circuitous one and required other results to go their way, but often that is the case in tournament sport. But they've come close again, not quite getting over the line, but they've certainly shown what they can do despite clear disadvantages, I suppose, in terms of raw numbers. But once again, they've been brilliant. And I'm reminded of a tweet that Jimmy Neesham put out there after the 2019 World Cup final when he said, kids, don't take up sport, take up baking or something. There is a sense from from New Zealanders that they must just be thinking, oh goodness me, not again. But, but you know, they will come again. They are, they are a side that deserves such credit, Abhishek, for what they do for world cricket and how often they compete so well.

Oh, I mean, whatever credit you give them is not going to be enough. From such a small population to keep producing such talented cricketers and just to compete at this level and compete so consistently consistently. I think no team, I mean, in the last 10 or 11 years has been as consistent as them to reach the semifinal and finals. Yeah, it's a shame that, uh, 5 times they've not managed to cross that line, but there will be a time when they will, because if they keep doing what they're doing, the way their cricket is being played and the, and the talent they are producing, it won't be too long since they lift an ICC event.

Yeah, surely not. And they'll keep plugging away, no doubt. Uh, the question is who's going to stop India? Because they, uh, they now do— as a, as a team that has got over the line after that long drought between 2013 and 2024, they now look like a side that is going to be very hard to stop when it comes to white ball cricket. And it'll be them that are, uh, the, the team people are looking to take down in the World Cup that comes in 2027 in the 50-over format in South Africa-Zimbabwe, when the Namibia. But as the celebrations continue at the far end of the ground, Rohit Sharma's down there, Jay Shah perhaps inevitably as well in amongst the celebrations, and Mornay Morkel as well, who is wearing an India Champions jersey. The South Africa great crucial part of their support staff too, and it is a team effort, and they have not left a single stone unturned, this India side, to make sure that they have the best people available to get the job done, and, uh, and they certainly have done that. They've won this game by 96 runs against New Zealand, who are 159 all out in response to India's 255 for 5. India asked to bat first. Sanju Samson scoring 89. 92 without loss was the score at the end of the power play, and it just kept on going for India, and they kept on celebrating and enjoying in the stands as well as the ball sailed to the boundary, uh, on 37 occasions during India's innings, which pretty much did the damage, I think it is fair to say. And they'll be loving every moment. I always feel for the losing side, Prakash, at moments like this because they've got to stand waiting around for the stage to be put up and, and knowing they've got to smile bravely.

Yes, and, and yet you know that when New Zealand has so So much we've talked about in the last 5-7 minutes about New Zealand, whether it's the ratio of players, whether it's how they pull talent from their population across different sports. And I dare say they are such an amazing nation. It's wonderful to see what they've been able to achieve. But yes, it must be disappointing, and these waits can seem interminable, isn't it? You're just waiting there. I know that the accolades are all going to go to the opposition, but what little I know— and I don't know a lot— but I'm sure in their heart of hearts they would be saying they've been outplayed by a team that performed better on the night, and they will not grudge India their moment under the artificial, albeit light and sunshine.

Well indeed, and those floodlights do shine brightly down on the outfield, which is quite the scene in front of us. Matt Henry, our colleague, not the New Zealand bowler, but the cricket writer for BBC Sport, Finney, described New Zealand's quest for finally getting that title as they're a bit like the charming best man but never the groom. But, but there is a— there's a Richard Curtis film somewhere down the line, surely.

Yeah, it feels like there kind of has to be, doesn't it? And you'd rather be a charming best man than anything beneath that as well. So there's, there's no shame in— no shame in performing coming as New Zealand have done. And I think, like the guys have said, one day they will win something and they'll look upon all of these losses as shared experience to propelling them towards that goal of winning that World Cup. But I think I've said it already, but they continually punch above their weight and they deserve a lot of credit for that.

Well, let's hear it from the captains then. First up, the losing skipper of New Zealand, Mitch Santner, and shortly after that we'll be hearing from Suryakumar Yadav. But here is Mitchell Santner first up.

It's a difficult time to do this interview, but you can be so proud of what you achieved. What are your thoughts just now?

Yeah, firstly, that's it. I think, um, proud of the boys to make it this far. Obviously, you know, we had some challenges throughout the tournament, but, you know, at each stage we kind of got through and put on a good show. Obviously tonight we were outplayed by a very good team in front of a great crowd. So, uh, yeah, Yeah, but I guess proud of the boys.

Must make you wonderful that when the New Zealand players come up here in Ahmedabad, you get such a wonderful ovation.

Yeah, I mean, most games we play, it's always a great crowd, and, um, to see a big sea of blue out there was— obviously we're the home favorites, but, um, yeah, I mean, credit to India to, to win a, a title at home is always a— comes with a lot of pressures. And I think, you know, Sky and the boys should be pretty very, very proud of their work.

You couldn't have come so far in this tournament without doing a lot of things right? Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, yourself— what in your opinion did you do right in this tournament?

Yeah, I think we, you know, different guys stepped up at different times throughout every stage. I think we're confronted with, you know, challenges throughout every stage, and, you know, it was nice to obviously get through. And, um, you know, obviously Super Eights and then the semi-final, we put on a pretty good show. But I guess tonight we were outplayed. But yeah, again, I think the boys should be very proud of their work.

You're always there and you're a very popular team in this part of the world. I wish you well, Mitch.

Cheers, Asha. Cheers.

There you go, Mitch Santner, captain of New Zealand. Come along, Surya, come along. Has it sunk in that you've created history? The first home team to win, the first team to retain the title. Has it sunk in?

I think it will take a little bit of time, but Definitely very happy with what has happened today. It has been a long journey, started post-2024 World Cup when BCCI at that time, Jai Bhai, that time Secretary Rohit Bhai and everyone, they showed faith in me, gave me an opportunity to lead this wonderful side. And then it was a long, long, long cycle coming here again at the Sri Narendra Modi Stadium and doing it. I think it's a special feeling.

How do you keep the pressure of being favorites away? Everyone's talking about India being favorites. What was that, the conversation in the dressing room as well, saying we are front runners, we'll do it?

I think we knew that we were playing some good, good cricket throughout, throughout the 2 years and it was going really well. We just wanted to follow all the good habits which we followed in 2024 T20 World Cup, tell the boys the same thing. What is the feeling of winning a World Cup? How do we want to play in the bilateral series? That taste which we want to take forward and go on to play a T20 World Cup. I think that was actually invite by to everyone to the team, and the boys, boys took it really well.

It was particularly admirable that you kept faith with players, whether it was Varun Chakravarti, whether it was Abhishek Sharma, whether it was Sanju Samson.

I think it's really important to understand, uh, you know, what, what they, what they are capable of. And I knew, uh, they had the match winners them. I think the timing was perfect for Sanju to come in. World number 1 players, we always knew that they had something special. No, no bigger stage than a final to do something. And also, also especially, uh, how Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, they have been in the circuit for a really long time, taking care of each other with all the support staff. I think it was very, very special.

Tell me how it is to have that magician Bumrah Bumrah in your side?

That's what I said, like how Bumba— like how Sanju said in the last game he wanted to give his man of the match to Jasprit Bumrah. Once is a generation bowler. I can call him as a national treasure right now, but, but he knows, uh, what, what needs to be done, uh, how it needs to be done, the best in the business. And hopefully he keeps, keeps doing that.

They're all looking here, they're all looking here, they're waiting for you to go there. Suryakumar Yadav, captain of India, it must be a fan Fantastic feeling. And now you can go and receive your trophy from Mr. Jay Shah, chairperson of the ICC. And well done.

Thank you, thank you, Ahmedabad.

And this is the moment that you wait for in your career, in front of your own crowd, winning the ICC T20 World Cup for the second time. Ladies and gentlemen, Suryakumar Yadav and Team India.

Prakash, I'm going to give the final words to you because you've been out there, you've seen the scenes out there. What have you taken from this and how do you reflect as a really proud fan, not just of Indian cricket but a proud fan of cricket?

Indeed, I think this tournament has done a lot for the game. Above all, we've talked about the spreading of the game. We saw some of the teams that have been— adjectives used for them probably need to be reconsidered now. We saw them compete really well. Uh, it's, it's gone through a lot of change and turmoil.

We—

they ran some of the established sides really close. Also, I think the fact that it's ending in a manner where it's, it's been played in great spirit— tournament began with a lot of controversy around it, that's all behind us. And I think it propels the game forward. And as you said, come June and July, we will see in the summer in England the women take on. So I think as a sport the sport, the widening of it, the growth of it, the emergence of young talent, all of that is wonderful. But for a moment, from an Indian fan's perspective, for me this is now beginning to build on what Rohit Sharma as captain began. Fearless cricket, play as a team, we win together, we lose together, and long may that continue from an Indian fan's perspective.

Well, thanks to Stephen Finn, Abhishek Janjua Walla, and Prakash Wakanka. That's it for this episode of the TMS podcast, make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode. And Test Match Special will be with you for every ball of the way for what's going to be a brilliant summer. England hosting the Women's T20 World Cup as well as series against New Zealand and India. England's men are hosting New Zealand and Pakistan for Test series and white ball series as well against tonight's winners India and also Sri Lanka. So much cricket on the horizon on TMS and on the BBC. Thank you so much for listening. We'll speak to you next time. The TMS Podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live.

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