Following India’s commanding 96-run victory over New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final held in Ahmedabad, former England fast bowler Steven Finn offered a striking observation regarding the exceptional talent within the Indian cricket team.
Finn highlighted that despite being one of India’s top spin bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav saw minimal action throughout the tournament, playing only a single game and largely remaining on the sidelines. According to Finn, a player of Kuldeep’s caliber would easily secure a spot in the starting XI of almost any other team competing in the tournament. He described India’s talent pool as “terrifying,” questioning whether other nations could genuinely keep pace with such abundant resources, suggesting they would be compelled to find a way to adapt.
Echoing Finn’s sentiments, former England pacer Stuart Broad also weighed in on the profound depth of Indian cricket after their recent triumph. Broad pointed out the remarkable fact that highly talented players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill were not even selected for the squad. He attributed this extraordinary reserve of talent, and the players’ ability to handle immense pressure, largely to the Indian Premier League (IPL). Broad noted that the IPL prepares players for international-level scrutiny and expectations long before they represent their country, creating an environment where performing under pressure becomes second nature. He concluded that this system is likely to further widen the performance gap between India and other cricketing nations in the T20 format.
Discussing individual accolades, Finn also commented on Sanju Samson receiving the Player of the Tournament award. He firmly believed Samson was a deserving recipient, emphasizing that the award should recognize impact in crucial matches rather than simply being given to the highest run-scorer or wicket-taker. Finn referenced Samson’s consistently impactful performances, particularly in the later stages of the competition.
While acknowledging Samson’s merit, Finn also expressed a desire to see bowlers receive more recognition in major tournaments. He often feels that match awards disproportionately favor batsmen, citing instances where bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah deliver exceptional performances but are overlooked. However, in this specific final, Finn conceded that while Bumrah bowled brilliantly (taking four wickets), the initial powerplay dominance established by Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma was ultimately where the game was decided, preventing New Zealand from mounting a comeback.
