When tournament organisers unveiled the anthem “Feel the Thrill” with its central lyric of “This is our year,” it could have been tempting fate. As it turned out, those words could hardly have been more accurate. India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the T20 World Cup final to retain the title and confirm, definitively, that 2024 belongs to Indian cricket.
The match was not a thriller in the conventional sense, but for India and their fans, it was something better — a controlled, dominant, emphatic victory that left nothing to chance. Three of the four highest totals in this World Cup have been scored by India, and their 255 in the final was no exception. New Zealand were outclassed in every department.
Sanju Samson was India’s standout batter with 89 off 46 balls, ably supported by Abhishek Sharma’s 18-ball fifty and Ishan Kishan’s 54 off 25. The powerplay was a blur of boundaries and sixes, with India reaching 92 without loss in six overs — a number that equalled the highest ever recorded in World Cup history. New Zealand’s bowlers had no answers, and ultimately no dignity left to salvage.
Bumrah’s bowling in the second innings was the perfect complement to the batting display, with three wickets and a man-of-the-match performance that underlined why he is considered the world’s finest fast bowler. His slow yorkers were unplayable, and New Zealand’s lower order had no response to his accuracy. The final whistle — or rather the final wicket — came with 96 runs still required.
India have made history twice over — defending the title and winning it at home. For the 100,000 fans who packed the stadium and the millions watching across India, this was a moment they will remember for the rest of their lives. Cricket’s most passionate nation has its greatest team.