T20 World Cup final: Defending champion India chases glory against resurgent New Zealand

In its earlier modest avatar as the Motera, the current gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium, witnessed history. In this venue, Sunil Gavaskar became the first man to reach 10,000 Test runs with a late cut off Pakistani spinner Ijaz Fakih in 1987. And in 1994, Kapil Dev emerged as the highest wicket-taker in Tests, scalping Sri Lankan Hashan Tillakaratne as his 432nd victim.

These achievements, though, were at an individual level, while India searched for a collective team performance that would lend an aura to this ground. The Men in Blue lost the 2023 World Cup final to Australia in Ahmedabad on a November night that broke countless hearts.

Cut to the present, Suryakumar Yadav’s men have a chance to script history as Sunday’s (March 9) ICC T20 World Cup final against New Zealand beckons. Stepping in as defending champion, India seeks an encore.

Through the campaign, despite a solitary loss against South Africa, India found a way to dominate. Its tail-wind now is being propelled by opener Sanju Samson, spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Opener Samson has lent assurance and aggression. Nearly everyone has chipped in, and some have excelled in their secondary roles too. Seamer Shivam Dube batted well, and spinner Axar Patel displayed incredible fielding skills.

Still, there are concerns. Abhishek Sharma has a lone fifty, and Varun Chakaravarthy’s mystique as a spinner has been dented. Both stepped into this championship as ICC’s number one batter and bowler respectively in T20Is. Their mixed yield is another reflection of how sport can be a hard place.

Facing-off from the rival corner is New Zealand. Finn Allen’s 33-ball unbeaten 100 pulverised South Africa in the semifinal at Eden Gardens. His fellow batter Tim Seifert has been prolific while among bowlers, Rachin Ravindra the spinner, has dominated with 11 wickets and seamer Matt Henry has bowled tight.

The Black Caps have often ambushed India at cricket’s biggest stages. Be it the 2019 World Cup semifinal at Manchester, or the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final at Southampton, New Zealand dashed Indian hopes.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the West Indies was the second-favourite side of most fans, and now that tag sits easily upon New Zealand, as the likes of Kane Williamson enhanced the endearment-factor.

Mitchell Santner’s troops will be conscious of a drought when it comes to ICC titles. A lone Test Championship title, and multiple runner-up finishes define New Zealand’s tilt at glory so far.

In ODIs, back in 2000, New Zealand won the ICC KnockOut Trophy at India’s expense in Harare with Chris Cairns smashing an unbeaten 102. The one link from those days is Ajit Agarkar, who played that game, and is now the chairman of Indian selectors.

New Zealand would want to replicate its giant killing act. However, India wants to own a slice of history in a city that seeks a sporting high as a prelude to hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games besides dreaming about a probable Olympic debut in 2036.