ICC T20 World Cup 2026: India vs New Zealand | Final | Ahmedabad | March 08 | Pre-Match Discussion

[sweep_shot]

Kiwis need to get Samson out quickly.

If they can do that, job is 80% done.

 

[Prince of Dorne]

Kiwis need to get Samson out quickly.

If they can do that, job is 80% done.

Yes, because rest of the team doesn't know how to hold a bat and Bumrah and co will magically forget bowling if Samson goes cheaply

I mean, hating on Team India /BCCI is fine, many do, but at least try to make sense once in a while. Is that too much to ask?

 

[SherWaqar]

Kiwis need to get Samson out quickly.

If they can do that, job is 80% done.

100% someon else will step up. Expecting NZ openers to go in to their shell tomorrow.

 

[SherWaqar]

Nothing can save us on this ground, so congratulations Kiwis T20 streak ll continue hopefully we just make sure we take our catches

Excellent jinxing skills

 

[JaDed]

100% someon else will step up. Expecting NZ openers to go in to their shell tomorrow.

Excellent jinxing skills

We have 0 wins against them in T20 wc, not to forget we have only lost at that stadium in ICC games in past I dunno 25-28 games

 

[sweep_shot]

100% someon else will step up. Expecting NZ openers to go in to their shell tomorrow.

I think NZ should chase if they win the toss.

 

[jnaveen1980]

We have 0 wins against them in T20 wc, not to forget we have only lost at that stadium in ICC games in past I dunno 25-28 games

Since 2023 in ICC tournaments india has lost only twice. Both happened here.

 

[JaDed]

Since 2023 in ICC tournaments india has lost only twice. Both happened here.

Yeah Exactly my point , hopefully Kuldeep comes in, seems like some problem happened in the game he dropped a catch where Hardik and SKY got mad at him..

 

[JaDed]

I think even the tussle against @shaz619 isn't able to make me support ICT completely against Kiwis..

Maybe some Bangladeshis can help bring in the spirit!

But for now Humble guys Kiwis for the win

 

[shaz619]

Now if you excuse me, I got to hunt for a new car now, it may be a runabout old Mercy - DIESEL just to rub it in a bit more @JaDed

 

[The Bald Eagle]

@Devadwal @Bhaag Viru Bhaag @Rajdeep so afraid of the stadium name ....as I have said SA have already broken the jinx. Calm down guys

===

 

[Cover Drive Six]

I won’t feel bad even if we lose this tournament, we’ve already won 3major T20 tournaments back to back.

 

[Katwalindian]

I won’t feel bad even if we lose this tournament, we’ve already won 3major T20 tournaments back to back.

3 major?

 

[Katwalindian]

Excellent jinxing skills

In t20s anything can happen

 

[Cover Drive Six]

3 major?

T20 WC
CT
Asia Cup

 

[shah9425]

India is favourite for win

 

[jnaveen1980]

I won’t feel bad even if we lose this tournament, we’ve already won 3major T20 tournaments back to back.

We are winning next T20 for sure. We will unleash vaibhav prime time. 300 will be par score

 

[Katwalindian]

T20 WC
CT
Asia Cup

Soo what....you are good for next 10 years?

 

[Katwalindian]

It's funny to think NZ may wins the wc...thanks to srilanka at least that white elephant did something good for someone..

 

[jnaveen1980]

T20 WC
CT
Asia Cup

Women's world cup
Under-19 world cup

 

[jnaveen1980]

It's funny to think NZ may wins the wc...thanks to srilanka at least that white elephant did something good for someone..

Thanks to pakistan lol Srilanka was already out when they played pakistan. It was a dead rubber for them.

 

[AZulfi]

India have shown that they can chase 200 (195 run target vs windies) as well as score 250 (already done it twice in this World Cup) batting first. Let’s see what NZ do if they win the toss in the final.

Michael Clarke said in his recent podcast (beyond 23 cricket):
‘Bumrah is a freak. He is by a distance the best all format cricketer in the world.’

Bumrah surely was the difference in the game against England. His bowling action may not be aesthetic but he is mighty effective. To concede just 33 runs in 4 overs in a game in which 499 runs were scored in 40 overs was a special effort.

 

[globetrotter]

According aom bangla fans every NZ batsman to score century in Final, But how is it possible.... and if that happens

Nz score in 20 overs will be 1100 runs

 

[Asif321]

Kiwis win when their openers click if not it’s game over for them .

 

[jnaveen1980]

ONE MONTH BACK INDIA VS NZ. If Abhishek finds his touch it will be a run fest.

1st ODI India 238/7 I Abhishek 84(35), Rinku 44(20))
NZ 190/7 (Philips 78(40))


2nd ODI NZ 208/6 ( Rachin 44(26), Santner 47(27))
India 209/3 (15.2) ( Kishan 76(32), SKY 82(37))


3rd ODI NZ 153/9 (Phillips 48(40))
India 155/2 (10 overs) (ABhishek 68(20), SKY 57(26)


4th T20I NZ 217/5 (seifert 62(36))
India 165 (Dube 65(23))

5th T20I India 271/5 (Kishan 103(43), SKY 63(30), Pandya 42(17)
NZ 225 ( Finn Allen 80(38))

 

[SM1989]

From yesterday's semi, the match cannot be decided till last ball bowled..... expecting cliffhanger final as both teams are strong

NZ dont have it in them to go all the way against India in their home conditions in front of a packed home crowd. Only Australia could have done that and they unfortunately got eliminated early this tournament.

 

[jnaveen1980]

NZ dont have it in them to go all the way against India in their home conditions in front of a packed home crowd. Only Australia could have done that and they unfortunately got eliminated early this tournament.

Australia has done once lol THey got kicked out in 2011. That too without Pandya.

 

[Devadwal]

Final is not going to beva 215+ runs game. Ahmedabad pitch is always offer some assistance to bowler as well.

 

[globetrotter]

NZ dont have it in them to go all the way against India in their home conditions in front of a packed home crowd. Only Australia could have done that and they unfortunately got eliminated early this tournament.

But Pakistan can demand befire ICC to bring Australia in the final, if demand not met then Pakistan can boycott next WC T20

 

[BouncerGuy]

AS PER REPORTS:
For the T20 World Cup 2026 final, India will be offered a mixed‑soil pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with a higher percentage of red soil than black. This surface is expected to provide good bounce and allow the ball to come onto the bat easily in both innings, making it a more balanced, sporting wicket.

The choice is deliberate: India previously lost two major World Cup matches in Ahmedabad on black‑soil pitches, which tend to become sluggish, including the 2023 ODI World Cup final vs Australia and a heavy Super 8 defeat to South Africa in this tournament.

This same red‑soil‑dominant pitch was used earlier when South Africa scored 213/5 against Canada, indicating it plays well for batting. India’s management, unhappy with some league‑stage surfaces, also communicated with curators to ensure a fair, consistent wicket for the final.

 

[sweep_shot]

AS PER REPORTS:
For the T20 World Cup 2026 final, India will be offered a mixed‑soil pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with a higher percentage of red soil than black. This surface is expected to provide good bounce and allow the ball to come onto the bat easily in both innings, making it a more balanced, sporting wicket.

The choice is deliberate: India previously lost two major World Cup matches in Ahmedabad on black‑soil pitches, which tend to become sluggish, including the 2023 ODI World Cup final vs Australia and a heavy Super 8 defeat to South Africa in this tournament.

This same red‑soil‑dominant pitch was used earlier when South Africa scored 213/5 against Canada, indicating it plays well for batting. India’s management, unhappy with some league‑stage surfaces, also communicated with curators to ensure a fair, consistent wicket for the final.

Pitch tempering?

This is not a bilateral series. This is a World Cup. I don't think any team should ask curator what pitch to produce for a World Cup.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Kiwis should go for Chase, I think... Pitch might be a belter

 

[AZulfi]

India will start as favourites - #1 ranked team + having beaten the same opposition 4-1 at home recently - unless the jinx of Narendra Modi Stadium comes back to haunt them. In that case, I suggest renaming the stadium as Panauti Stadium!

What better occasion than a Final to break the jinx?

 

[Vikram1989]

Final is not going to beva 215+ runs game. Ahmedabad pitch is always offer some assistance to bowler as well.

I heard its a red soil pitch with full of runs.mostly sa vs namibai(230 runs scored ) one i think.

 

[Vikram1989]

India will start as favourites - #1 ranked team + having beaten the same opposition 4-1 at home recently - unless the jinx of Narendra Modi Stadium comes back to haunt them. In that case, I suggest renaming the stadium as Panauti Stadium!

What better occasion than a Final to break the jinx?

One analyst called it out correctly. Its not issue with the stadium but the choice of pitch.In both big failures, India went with the black soil pitch on the slower side.it backfired spectacularly. This time they are opting for true batting pitch(red soil one).

 

[AZulfi]

One analyst called it out correctly. Its not issue with the stadium but the choice of pitch.In both big failures, India went with the black soil pitch on the slower side.it backfired spectacularly. This time they are opting for true batting pitch(red soil one).

I was only kidding. It is just two games, and both were against tough opponents, Australia and South Africa.

Hoping for a good, tight, high-scoring contest like the second SF

 

[harshjoshi87]

India have lost only two matches in last 3 ICC tournaments, both losses coming at this manhoos panauti ground.

Hopefully India will win this time & end the jinx of this manhoos panauti stadium.

 

[Hitman]

Let’s see how many of you are in our side while how many of you are in New Zealand’s side.

Let’s express ourselves with no objections from anyone, extreme support and extreme dislike.​

 

[harshjoshi87]

Team India

 

[Hitman]

Mods, can we have a poll? It will be fun.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I was only kidding. It is just two games, and both were against tough opponents, Australia and South Africa.

Hoping for a good, tight, high-scoring contest like the second SF

Australia was not a tough opponent. Any team that has Labu and washed up steve smith as your middle order in ODi is not a tough opponent. Also Cummins has never been a factor in India. India self-imposed tuk tuk because India had a long tail with absence of Pandya and presence of SKy cost us atleast 60 runs. 253 was a rubbish total on that pitch.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Mods, can we have a poll? It will be fun.

Will put in Poll here...

 

[Hitman]

Will put in Poll here...

Ok!

 

[BouncerGuy]

POLL ADDED GUYS.

 

[Hitman]

POLL ADDED GUYS.

How about you vote first?

 

[BouncerGuy]

How about you vote first?

I picked india actually... India is gonna win... too good a side to lose in the final

 

[Hitman]

I picked india actually... India is gonna win... too good a side to lose in the final

Bhai, it’s about who you want to win.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Bhai, it’s about who you want to win.

India is stronger side,... I want them to win... They deserve it.

 

[globetrotter]

India should replace Varun with Kuldeep...

 

[kron]

India is stronger side,... I want them to win... They deserve it.

For me I don’t like nz
I don’t like England at all
I tolerate SA

I like aus but I don’t want them to win more titles

But I would rather aus any day over other fraud sen nations. Any day.

Hopefully India can win.

I just want India to win for sweep shot bhai. He deserves a title

Vicarious win to celebrate in Bangladesh

 

[globetrotter]

In this WC, we have seen many Pakistani and bangla posters criticised and prayed for India to loose the matches, however exactly opposite of it have happened...

Therefore now before final suddenly pak and bangla posters realised their mistakes and started praising Indian Team without any reasons with an intention of expecting result will go opposite of their support

 

[shah9425]

India is favourite to win

Let's see can they break their jinx here at Ahmedabad

 

[sweep_shot]

All the best to New Zealand. Bring home the win.

Would be amazing if they can silence 100,000+ bhakts in Ahmedabad stadium (like Australia did in 2023 WC final).

 

[kron]

India is favourite to win

Let's see can they break their jinx here at Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad stadium should be burned down if India don’t win

But I only want India to win for sweep shot bhai

Otherwise don’t care for odi and t20

Although t20 we is better than odi win

Tests is supreme. World number 1 ranking in tests is what I care about and India is in transition right now for that format. So not happy overall

 

[shah9425]

Ahmedabad stadium should be burned down if India don’t win

But I only want India to win for sweep shot bhai

Otherwise don’t care for odi and t20

Although t20 we is better than odi win

Tests is supreme. World number 1 ranking in tests is what I care about and India is in transition right now for that format. So not happy overall

Change the name for future

Maybe luck works again

 

[jnaveen1980]

NZ is going to be way more motivated this time. 2021 Kane played out of his skin. But dew let them down in the final.. This is one chance they won't go to waste