T20 World Cup 2026: Sanju Samson ends campaign on a high note with three consecutive half-centuries

This marked his third consecutive half-century in the ongoing edition of the global showpiece.

Earlier in the semi-final against England, the Kerala-born cricketer amassed 89 runs in 41 balls, including eight boundaries and seven maximums. In the Super 8 match against the West Indies of the same edition, the 31-year-old cricketer garnered an unbeaten 97 runs. His unbeaten knock of 50 balls also included 12 boundaries and four maximums.

In the first innings of the final of the global showpiece against the "Black Caps", the "Men in Blue" posted a total of 255 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. Along with Samson, Team India's Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan also slammed stunning half-centuries.

Abhishek scored 52 runs off 21 balls, including six boundaries and three maximums. Ishan's knock ended with a score of 54 runs in 25 balls, including four boundaries and four maximums.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed on a one-ball duck. Hardik Pandya managed to score 18 runs in 13 balls, including a boundary and a maximum. Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube stayed unbeaten. Facing six balls, Varma scored eight runs, whereas Dube smashed 26 runs in just eight balls, including three boundaries and two maximums. With this, the "Men in Blue" posted a total of 255 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs

New Zealand's James Neesham returned with the figures of three wickets for 46 runs in four overs. Rachin Ravindra and Matt Henry bagged one wicket each. Glenn Phillips, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, and skipper Mitchell Santner went wicketless in the T20 World Cup 2026 final against the "Men in Blue".

As the game proceeds in the second essay, the "Men in Blue" will heavily rely on their lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Shouldering him will be Arshdeep Singh. It will be interesting to see if Team India manage to defend their T20 World Cup title.