INDvsNZ, T20 WC Final LIVE: Sanju Samson equals Virat Kohli's record with a 33-ball fifty in Ahmedabad

Sanju Samson, the Indian wicket-keeper batter, who had already scored a 97 and 89 in the previous two matches, scored a 33-ball fifty against New Zealand in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. By scoring a fifty in both semis and the final of the same T20 World Cup edition, Sanju has now become the second Indian batter to achieve this feat.

NZ sent India to bat first

After New Zealand skipper Mithcell Santner asked India to bat first and brought one change to their playing XI, it was India who dominated the first powerplay.

Abhishek Sharma, who was not in form throughout the campaign, gave India the perfect start by scoring a 21-ball 52, of which the first 51 came in 18 balls, the fastest fifty of this edition.

Read also: 'Rely on the finer aspects': Ravi Ashwin gives tactical advice to Varun Chakaravarthy ahead of the T20 WC final.

Sanju matches Kohli

While Abhishek ran a massacre on the Kiwi bowlers, Sanju somehow played a single fiddle in the powerplay. However, he was already batting on 24 when India ended the powerplay on 92/0.

Sanju relied on his hitting skills and also applied himself to take singles and doubles to keep the momentum going after Ishan Kishan joined him post Abhishek's dismissal.

With boundaries in every single over, Sanju reached his third consecutive fifty of the tournament in just 33 balls, before launching another attack on the Blackcaps bowlers.

With his fifty, he has now become the third player to score a fifty in both semi-final and final of a single T20 World Cup edition after Shahid Afridi in 2019 and Virat Kohli in 2014.

Read also: 4 talking points from Mitchell Santner's press conference ahead of India vs New Zealand, T20 WC 2026 final.

Another record for Sanju

Sanju Samson also has equalled the record for most consecutive 50-plus scores in T20 World Cups.

Here are the players with the record:

3 - Mahela Jayawardene (2010)

3 - Virat Kohli (2016-2021)

3 - Babar Azam (2021)

3 - KL Rahul (2021)

3 - Kusal Mendis (2026)

3 - Sahibzada Farhan (2026)

3 - Sanju Samson (2026)

How to watch the India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2026 final match online?

Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2026 final match on JioHotstar, accessible via OTTplay Premium.