Indian cricket team skipper Suryakumar Yadav came up with a stunning tactic to dismiss in-form New Zealand batter Find Allen during the T20 World Cup 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Allen was the top performer for New Zealand ahead of the final with 289 runs in 7 matches including a sensational century against South Africa in the semifinal. While the New Zealand batter proved his prowess against the fast bowlers, he looked a bit shaky against spin. That was exactly what Suryakumar Yadav looked to exploit as he introduced spinner Axar Patel in the third over of the New Zealand innings.
Bringing Axar in the powerplay against NZ openers – that’s Captain SKY for you.
He’s not the kind of captain who fed spin to dangerous Klaasen in a T20 World Cup final
SKY masterclass captaincy
— Vikhyath D King (@vickyNAGfan) March 8, 2026
On the fourth ball of the over, Allen decided to target a quicker delivery from Axar but ended up completely mistiming his slog pull. The ball went straight to Tilak Varma at long-on and the youngster made no mistake in completing the catch.
Another brilliant captaincy call by Sky.
First, went with Axar over Boom n then, brought in Bumrah for 4th over to increase the pressure.
— Perpetual Procrastinator (@Akshay01shukla) March 8, 2026
Internet was quick to react to Allen’s dismissal and a lot of users praised Suryakumar for his brilliant decision.
First over Arshdeep.
Second Hardik.
Arshdeep bowled well but Axar got the third and got a wicket.
Then Bumrah and he immediately gets the wicket.
Bumrah against England and here against NZ bowled a slower one first up both time and got the wicket both time because the batsmen…
— WAR (@Waqaas1980s) March 8, 2026
Coming to the match, Jasprit Bumrah picked 4-15 as India became the first team to retain the Men’s T20 World Cup title and win the crown three times after beating New Zealand by 96 runs in front of 86,824 fans.
Sanju Samson’s blistering 89 off 46 balls, laced with five fours and eight sixes, powered India to 255/5, the highest total in a T20 World Cup final, before Jasprit and Axar Patel (3-27) ripped through New Zealand’s top order to seal victory. The visitors were dismissed for 159 in 19 overs, with only Tim Seifert offering resistance through a fighting 52.
Samson, in prime form after scores of 97 not out and 89 in his previous innings, shared a 98-run opening stand with Abhishek Sharma (52 off 21 balls) while Ishan Kishan added 54 off 25 deliveries.
James Neesham briefly checked the charge with three wickets in an over, but Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 26 off eight balls pushed India past 250. India’s bowlers then ensured there was no repeat of the semi-final scare against England, reducing New Zealand to 52/3 inside the powerplay.
The win broke two hoodoos – India’s first victory over New Zealand in a T20 World Cup and their first ICC white-ball triumph in Ahmedabad after defeats in the 2023 ODI final and earlier in this tournament.
(With agency inputs)
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