T20 World Cup 2026: 'Let the game come to me' - Jasprit Bumrah on match-winning bowling performance in final

India’s triumphant march to their third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title was powered by an explosive batting performance, but it was Jasprit Bumrah who delivered the final blow with a spell that crushed New Zealand’s hopes in the summit clash. Bumrah showcased his brilliance, returning with figures of 4 for 15 to seal India’s commanding 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Earlier in the evening, India produced a batting masterclass, posting 255 for 5, one of the highest totals ever in a T20 World Cup final. Aggressive knocks from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Sanju Samson propelled India to a blistering start, with the team racing to 92 runs in the powerplay. Samson continued his purple patch with another outstanding innings, while Kishan provided support as the hosts attacked the New Zealand bowlers.

Bumrah entered the attack early in the chase and relied heavily on his deceptive slower cutters rather than pace on the batting-friendly pitch. The very first delivery, he removed Rachin Ravindra, who mistimed a pick-up shot against a cleverly disguised slower ball and was caught in the deep, giving India an early breakthrough. The dismissal mirrored a similar tactic Bumrah had used successfully in the semifinal. The star pacer finished with career-best T20I figures of 4 for 15, dismantling the middle order and ensuring that New Zealand never came close to threatening India’s massive total.

"It feels extremely special because I've played one final at my home venue and you know, couldn't win that one, but this one feels really special. It couldn't be (more) special than this to win Man of the Match here, World Cup final, started my cricket here. Doesn't get better than this," Bumrah said at the presentation ceremony after India's dominant 96-run win.

He also received excellent support from the bowling unit. Axar Patel chipped in with three wickets, while the rest of the attack maintained pressure from both ends as New Zealand’s innings gradually unraveled. For Bumrah, the victory carried special emotional significance. The final was played in Ahmedabad, the city where his cricketing journey began. The venue also held painful memories after India’s loss in the 2023 ODI World Cup final at the same ground.

"I was really motivated. I was really clear. I knew what I wanted to do. The wicket was a flat one, so I've played all my cricket here, so I used all my experience. Today was a wonderful day where all the execution went as per plan. So, yeah, really happy, really grateful. God is really kind. But in this format, I let the game come to me. I was clear. I used to prepare and then read the situation and believe in myself. That is what I tried to do in this tournament. It worked really well for me. So, yeah, my individual assessment of my game has always been my strength. So, yeah, couldn't be more happy. Everybody in the bowling group was very clear. 

Whenever we've discussed, they always come up with their options. And whenever there's some communication that is to be needed, we always did that. We kept calm. We were never panicking, even if sometimes in the tournament, the games got close like the last one, we never panicked. We always felt that we keep our head above the water and try to hold our nerve. Teams that do that win the tournament and we are very happy that we did it. It's really, really special. The crowd was really brilliant. They were behind us. They supported us throughout. And yeah, really, really happy and really thankful for all the support," Bumrah added.