Commonwealth Sport president Rukare, CEO Sadler, second left, and Director of Games & Assurance Hall at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Ricky Ponting (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has praised the India national cricket team after their dominant victory in the T20 World Cup 2026, calling the current Indian side one of the strongest T20 teams ever. India secured their third T20 World Cup title with a convincing 96-run win over the New Zealand national cricket team in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The win also made India the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup.

Ponting praises India’s depth and consistency

Ponting highlighted India’s impressive performances in recent ICC tournaments and their strong record in white-ball cricket. According to him, the team’s combination of talent, experience and depth makes them extremely difficult to beat.“It’s really hard to argue a point against that. If you look at this, not just the T20I team but their white-ball record in ICC events over the last five or six years, it’s quite remarkable,” Ponting said on International Cricket Council’s The ICC Review.“A lot of people probably identified before this tournament started the depth and the strength that this current Indian team had, and also the experience that they have.“This is a very, very strong Indian white-ball team, not just a T20 team. Back-to-back World Cups, hats off to them.”

Experience and IPL influence

The former Australian captain believes the players’ experience from both international cricket and the Indian Premier League has helped them handle pressure situations better.“The one thing that’s probably overlooked with this current team is the amount of experience and the amount of cricket a lot of these guys have played, whether it’s international cricket or even just the IPL,” said Ponting, who is also head coach of Punjab Kings.“The IPL games are every bit as big as international games anyway, so this Indian team came in well primed with great balance and a great squad.”

Learning from a rare defeat

India had suffered a defeat against the South Africa national cricket team during the Super Eight stage, but Ponting felt the loss actually helped the team refocus.“You win 12 matches on the trot, there’s bound to be an off day. And I am glad it’s come early. It might just be the shake-up India needed,” he said. “They would have learned from that experience and won’t take things for granted.”After that loss, India bounced back strongly with powerful batting displays, scoring over 250 runs in three matches, including the semifinal and the final.“Maybe it just allowed them to regroup, get together and talk about the things that are important to them as a team,” Ponting added. “They solidified what they felt was their strongest playing XI and didn’t make many changes at the back end of the tournament.”

Jasprit Bumrah (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah says delivering in the toughest moments is what gives him the greatest joy on a cricket field, after playing a decisive role in India’s historic triumph at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Bumrah reflected on the mindset that has driven his journey through the ranks — embracing the toughest challenges and stepping up when the team needs him most.“I always wanted to do a tough job. I’ve played cricket for that. I started cricket for that. When I’m able to make a difference, that gives me so much joy. No better feeling than that,” Bumrah said.

The right-arm quick produced a match-winning spell in the final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, claiming four wickets to dismantle the opposition and earn the Player of the Match award as India cruised to a dominant 96-run victory.With the win, India scripted history by becoming the first side to win three T20 World Cup titles, the first to defend the trophy successfully, and the first to lift the crown on home soil.For Bumrah, the moment carried deeper emotional significance. The venue also reminded him of the heartbreak of the 2023 Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad, where India fell just short of the title.“The last time we just fell short, this time we went over it. Really happy,” he said.The 32-year-old also revealed how the presence of his family made the moment even more special.“My son came. He was there last time as well; this time, he was there. My mum came — really special. I don’t know about full circles, but really, really happy.”Bumrah finished the tournament as joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps alongside mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy.“Back-to-back World Cups never really happen. Really grateful, God is really kind, and I couldn’t be more thankful,” Bumrah added.

T20 World Cup 2026: MS Dhoni arrives in Ahmedabad ahead of India vs New Zealand final

Former India captain MS Dhoni arrived in Ahmedabad on Sunday ahead of the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where India will face New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The 44-year-old had earlier watched India’s semi-final win over England in Mumbai and is likely to attend the title clash as well.Dhoni was present at the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium along with his wife Sakshi and several celebrities, including Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Anil Kapoor.

Cricketers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma were also among those who watched India beat England in a thrilling contest.India, now led by Suryakumar Yadav, will be aiming to defend their title and create history by becoming the first host nation to win the T20 World Cup and the first team to claim three titles. Dhoni had famously led India to their first T20 World Cup triumph in 2007, when they defeated Pakistan national cricket team in the final.Watch Dhoni arriving in Ahmedabad:New Zealand, meanwhile, are chasing their maiden T20 World Cup title after finishing runners-up in 2021. Both teams come into the final after impressive semi-final wins. New Zealand hammered South Africa thanks to a stunning 33-ball century from Finn Allen, while India posted 253/7 against England and secured a narrow victory.Historically, the Black Caps have had the upper hand in T20 World Cup meetings against India, winning in 2007, 2016 and 2021. However, India head into the final in strong form after a recent 4-1 T20I series win over New Zealand at home.

Suryakumar Yadav responded to comments made by Mitchell Santner about silencing the home crowd in the final

NEW DELHI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday responded to comments made by Mitchell Santner about silencing the home crowd in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad, saying such remarks have become common before major matches.India will face New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.Earlier in the day, New Zealand captain Santner had said his team would look to quieten the home crowd during the final. His statement was similar to one made by Pat Cummins before the final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at the same venue, when Australia defeated India.“The goal is to silence the crowd. There are a lot of variables in T20 cricket, and it is fickle at times,” the 34-year-old said. “If we go out about our business the same way we can upset another big team. There’s obviously a lot of pressure on in there (on India) to win this World Cup at home.”

Responding to the remark, Suryakumar said such statements are now repeated often before major games.“Sab he same line chipka rahe hai. Kuch to naya bolo (Everyone is now saying the same thing. Come up with something new),” Suryakumar Yadav told reporters in the pre-match press conference.The 35-year-old India captain, who is the second-highest run-scorer for the team in the 2026 T20 World Cup, said leading the side in a World Cup final comes with pressure but he wants to enjoy the occasion.He added that the atmosphere in the Indian dressing room remains positive as the team prepares for the final.“It’s a special feeling and everyone is very excited. We have a very good environment in the group. We are looking forward to the big final,” he said.“As a leader, there would be pressure; I cannot deny that. Definitely, there would be added pressure, the excitement is there of playing a World Cup final, that too in India,” Suryakumar added.India became the first defending champions to reach the final of the T20 World Cup. They will look to win the title and also become the first host nation to lift the trophy when they face New Zealand on Sunday.

Morne Morkel and Albie Morkel (IANS Phoro)

NEW DELHI: When India take on South Africa in their opening Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, the spotlight will not only be on the players but also on an extraordinary family duel unfolding behind the scenes.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!For the first time on such a stage, brothers Morne Morkel and Albie Morkel will stand in rival camps, serving as India’s bowling coach and South Africa’s consultant respectively, each tasked with plotting the other’s downfall in a high-stakes rematch of the 2024 final.

In a video shared by the BCCI, Albie summed up his mission with a smile and a warning. “Specialist consultant is a mouthful. In short, I have to figure out ways to beat Team India on Sunday. That’s it,” he said. “We actually coached together in our first stint; that’s where I shaped him to be a very good bowling coach. Showed him how to do it.”Morne acknowledged the intense expectations that come with his role but stressed the strength of India’s support system. “As a bowling coach, there’s always a lot of pressure on you. But we’re quite lucky that in our group, there’s a lot of experience… people that can assist and help you in that mental load,” he said.Despite the personal connection, both brothers made it clear that sentiment will not dilute their professional focus. “He works for India, I work for South Africa, and we both have the same goal — to win that game on Sunday,” Albie said. “The family will do the banter. We’re very calm and professional.”Their rivalry, however, dates back to childhood. “Most of the backyard games ended up in either argument or tears,” Albie laughed. “I remember him crying a lot because he was the youngest.”Both sides enter the contest unbeaten, raising the stakes further.

Shivam Dube said guidance from former India captain MS Dhoni helped shape his batting approach after he played a match-winning 67-run knock in the last group-stage match of the T20 World Cup against Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.Dube said he had struggled against pace bowling early in his career, but advice from Dhoni on strike rotation and controlled intent helped him improve in pressure situations.

“When I first came into the IPL, I struggled against fast bowlers and wasn’t striking the ball cleanly. I realised that if I want to dominate at this level and I have the power, I needed to work on that aspect. I put in significant effort during the off-season. Mahi bhai told me that it’s not necessary to hit sixes every time. Boundaries and strike rotation are equally important.“That clarity has helped me. If I get a good ball, I look for a boundary or rotate strike. In the death overs, I will naturally go harder, but early in the innings, my focus is on smart intent,” Dube told Jio Hotstar, as cited by news agency IANS.Speaking about pressure situations, Dube said his focus is on batting according to the match scenario and staying till the end if required.“I don’t feel pressure; I focus on the situation. If wickets fall, my responsibility is to bat deep. If I stay till the end, I know I can add 10–15 crucial runs in the final over. I avoid taking unnecessary risks in the middle overs. If the situation demands stability, I rotate strike. If the platform is set, I’m ready to attack from the first ball,” he said.Dube walked in to bat when India were 69 for 3 after nine overs and stabilised the innings with a 66-run knock off 31 balls.He also contributed with the ball, taking two wickets for 35 runs in three overs. For his all-round performance, he was named player of the match.