Ricky Martin to perform at T20 World Cup 2026 closing ceremony ahead of IND vs NZ final showdown

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is all set to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on March 8, between India and New Zealand. This is the second time these two teams will meet in an ICC event finals in a year. Previously, they met at the Champions Trophy 2025 where India lifted the trophy for the second time. 

This time, the Indian team is chasing a title, and will try to defy all the odds. In the T20 World Cup history, no team has ever won the title thrice and haven't won in their own backyard. Hence, the Men in Blue have a tough work to do on a Sunday evening. Meanwhile, ahead of the game, Peurto Rico's star singer Ricky Martin will perform in the closing ceremony of the ICC event. 

The ceremony will start at 5.30 PM with other performers like Bollywood and Punjabi singer Sukhbir, and famous Gujarati folk singer Falguni Pathak set to keep the crowd on their feet. Before the big showdown begins, this will be more like a relaxing session for the players as well who will be present in the stadium during the performances. 

Who is likely to win T20 World Cup 2026 final?

India will enter the contest as favorites since they are playing in their home town and have been performing well in the tournament so far. They'll have the crowd's support as well which is another huge factor. However, New Zealand have been absolutely stunning in the World Cup. Their batting and bowling attack did take a back seat in the Super 8 stage but they compensated for that in the semi-finals. 

The home team will have the pressure of home advantage and since the match is in Ahmedabad, the past games haven't been good for them. However, if we look at India's performance in the previous game in Mumbai, they were fantastic. The bowling did have a few issues, but the batting looked sorted. The same happened with New Zealand as well. Hence, everything comes down to contest between the batters. 

If we take a proper look at the pitch conditions, reports have claimed that the pitch will be mixed (red + black) soil, which is likely to favor the batters, just like what happened in Mumbai. Hence, predicting the winner is extremely difficult, considering the players in both teams. But, the toss will surely be an important factor. 

Where to watch New Zealand vs India match?

Cricket fans in India can watch the New Zealand vs India match on March 8 online on JioHotstar, via OTTplay Premium.

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