Yesterday India vs New Zealand match results: Sanju Samson opens up on dark phase after NZ series: ‘was broken, dreams were shattered’

India thrashed New Zealand by 96 runs to become the first team to defend their T20 World Cup title and win a record third crown in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Sanju Samson's blistering 89 off 46 balls guided India to 255-5 and the co-hosts then bowled out New Zealand for 159 in front of over 86,000 fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Riding on a blistering 89 from Sanju Samson and explosive half-centuries by Abhishek Sharma (52) and Ishan Kishan (54), India’s top order unleashed a six-hitting assault against New Zealand national cricket team in the title clash. The relentless batting onslaught left the Kiwi bowlers stunned as India piled up a massive 255/5, setting the tone for a high-scoring final.

Sanju Samson capped off a remarkable campaign in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 by winning the Player of the Tournament award after playing a decisive role in the India national cricket team’s title triumph. The star wicketkeeper-batter delivered consistent match-winning performances throughout the tournament, emerging as a key figure in India’s successful quest for the coveted T20 world title.


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'India vs New Zealand'

After receiving the award, Sanju Samson opened up about the journey that led to the defining tournament of his career.

"Feels like a dream. Very happy and grateful. Out of words, out of emotions. [On his three fifties, thought process] To be honest, it started one-two years before. When I was in the 2024 World Cup team where I didn't play, I kept visualising, kept on working and this was exactly what I wanted to do. After the NZ series I was broken, my dreams were completely shattered. And I was thinking what can I do. But God had different plans. And I was rewarded for being brave enough to dream. A lot of former players have reached out to me and tried to help me out," Samson was quoted as saying by TOI.

"For the last couple of months, I have been in constant contact with Sachin sir. I reached out to him and had big conversations with him. Getting guidance from someone like him, what more can you ask for? I am very grateful for everyone who supported me. [What more does he want to achieve?] This itself is very big for me, I want to enjoy it right now and then after a few day will figure out what more to do."

Sanju Samson also rewrote the record books during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 with a series of historic performances. The Indian star smashed 24 sixes, the most by any player in a single T20 World Cup edition, highlighting his dominant batting throughout the tournament.

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His brilliant 89 in the final is now the highest individual score in a T20 World Cup final, surpassing the previous records held by Marlon Samuels (85* in 2016) and Kane Williamson (85 in 2021).

Samson also finished with 321 runs, the highest by an Indian batter in a single T20 World Cup, breaking Virat Kohli’s long-standing record of 319 runs set in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

With his match-winning knocks in the knockout stage, Samson joined an elite list of players to score half-centuries in both the semi-final and the final of a T20 World Cup. Before him, only Shahid Afridi in 2009 and Virat Kohli in 2014 had achieved this rare milestone.

(With TOI inputs)