08 March,2026 05:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Dilip Vengsarkar (Pic: File Pic)
The stage is set for the T20 World Cup 2026 final between Team India and New Zealand. The match is scheduled to be played on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Ahead of the title clash, former cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar is hopeful of the "Men in Blue" emerging victorious tonight.
"It is very difficult to predict in this format. India is playing at home. I expect India to win. Indian players are in good form," he said.
The former cricketer also backed the struggling Team India opening batsman Abhishek Sharma and also stated that the first six overs of the game will be important.
"Abhishek Sharma has got tremendous potential. There is not a lot of pressure when you are on the ground. Abhishek Sharma is not in form. I hope that he gets in form. First 6 overs are very important," said Vengsarkar.
Ahead of the match, the "Men in Blue" will heavily rely on their in-form wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson. The right-handed batsman has showcased his tremendous skills with the willow in the previous games. The contributions from lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah will also be crucial for the "Men in Blue".
On the other hand, the "Black Caps" will also expect their opening batsman Finn Allen to replicate his performance from the match against South Africa.
In their head-to-head clashes, history may favour New Zealand, but form is with India. The Black Caps have not lost a match to India in the T20 World Cup, having scored victories in 2007, 2016 and 2021. However, the host nation was dominant in their recent T20I series in India, with a comfortable 4-1 win.
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner(c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
(With ANI Inputs)
