Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar offered a witty take on India’s impressive triumph in the T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand. India secured their third T20 World Cup title with a dominant 96-run victory over the Black Caps at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Showcasing their peak performance in the final, India delivered a clinical display across all departments. Sanju Samson’s outstanding 89 runs, complemented by half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma, propelled India to a formidable total of 255. In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah was exceptional, securing four wickets as New Zealand were dismissed for 159.
Commenting on the outcome, Akhtar humorously likened India’s overwhelming superiority to a privileged child inviting less fortunate peers to a cricket match solely to ensure their own victory. The former Pakistani speedster, known as the ‘Rawalpindi Express’, further attributed India’s consistent success internationally to their robust domestic cricket system and a selection process rooted in merit.
“India is behaving like a rich kid in the neighborhood who calls all the poorer children to play cricket, only to make sure he is the one who wins. India is doing the same to us. Out of eight teams, only four remain competitive, and they defeat them and declare themselves winners,” Akhtar expressed, highlighting the perception of India’s overwhelming strength in the current cricketing landscape.
He concluded by praising, “It is a testament to their policies, system, and meritocracy. While there’s always a risk of mismanaging resources, Gautam Gambhir made a bold move by including Sanju Samson. Abhishek Sharma, though talented, is young and still has much to learn, whereas Samson displays significant maturity.”
This victory elevates skipper Suryakumar Yadav to an exclusive group of Indian captains – including Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma – who have guided their nation to World Cup glory. The ‘Men in Blue’ had an exceptional tournament, suffering only a single defeat on their path to the title.
