Indian Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson (ANI Image)
The Indian national cricket team produced a record batting display to post the highest ever total in an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final, smashing 255 for five against the New Zealand national cricket team in their 2026 summit encounter in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Defending champions India were ruthless after being invited to bat, with Sanju Samson leading the charge with a stunning 89 off 45 balls. The wicket-keeper-batsman attacked from the start and combined with Abhishek Sharma to dismantle the New Zealand bowling attack.
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The opening pair put together a 98-run stand in just 7.1 overs, setting the perfect platform for a huge total. Abhishek fired a quick-fire 52 before Ishan Kishan continued his attack with an explosive 54 off just 25 deliveries.
Batting with relentless power and aggression, India crossed the 200-run mark in just 15 overs, leaving the New Zealand bowlers struggling for answers.Samson’s knock also created history as his 89 became the highest individual score in a T20 World Cup final. The Indian star surpassed the previous best of 85 not out by Marlon Samuels in 2016 and 85 not out by Kane Williamson in 2021.
Highest total for the team in T20 WC
260/6 – SL v Kane, Johannesburg, 2007256/4 – Ind v. Zim, Chennai, 2026255/5 – IND vs New Zealand, Ahmedabad, 2026 final254/6 – WE vs ZIM, Mumbai, 2026253/7 – IND vs ENG, Mumbai WS, 2026 SF246/7 – Eng v. Ind, Mumbai WS, 2026 S.FNew Zealand got things going briefly in the 16th over when James Neesham hit three balls in a six-ball over, dismissing Samson, Kishan and skipper Suryakumar Yadav to halt India’s attack.
However, Shivam Diop ensured that India finished strongly with an unbeaten 26 runs, taking 24 runs from the final over from Neesham. India plundered 52 runs in the last five overs to take the total to a shocking 255 for five.The score is now the highest ever in a T20 World Cup final and ranks among the biggest totals in the tournament’s history.India’s dominance with the bat was also evident in the T20 landscape.
The team now holds the record for the most 250 totals in men’s T20 cricket with seven, ahead of teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad and the West Indies cricket team.Notably, India also became the second team to register three totals of over 250 in a single T20 competition, matching the feat achieved by Sunrisers Hyderabad during the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League.With their explosive display of batting on the biggest stage, India once again asserted their dominance in the shortest format of the game.