India's resounding victory in the T20 World Cup 2026 final has generated widespread attention in the cricketing world. Team India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to win the title for the third time. While cricket experts worldwide are praising India's performance, former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has reacted controversially to the victory. He claimed that India's dominance has harmed cricket.
"India has ruined cricket."
Speaking on the Pakistani show "Game On Hai" on Tapmad, Shoaib Akhtar compared India's dominance to that of a rich kid in a neighborhood. He said, "It's like a rich kid in a neighborhood calling poor kids and saying, 'Come, let's play cricket.' India is doing the same thing to us. Out of eight teams, they keep four, then call three of them forward, and then say, 'Look, we won.' India has completely ruined cricket." He made serious allegations in jest, and his statement seemed like a taunt on the controversies that had erupted before the T20 World Cup. Akhtar's statement sparked a debate on social media. Many fans attributed it to frustration after India's victory.
He Said a Different Thing Before the final.
Interestingly, Shoaib Akhtar's stance before the final was somewhat different. At the time, he considered India a strong contender for the final, but stated that he wanted New Zealand to win in the best interests of cricket. He said, "I think New Zealand may come under pressure against India, but India also faces pressure from 1.5 billion people. India is a contender for victory here, but from a cricketing perspective, it's time for New Zealand to win this World Cup."
He also praised Gautam Gambhir.
However, amid criticism, Akhtar also acknowledged a key reason for India's success. He praised the Indian team head coach Gautam Gambhir. Akhtar believes that Gambhir showed confidence in the players and supported them during difficult times, which is crucial for winning major tournaments.
Amir also appeared frustrated.
After India's victory, another former Pakistani fast bowler, Mohammad Aamir, also offered a different reaction. He said on a Pakistani cricket show that New Zealand's bowling was a major factor in India's victory. According to him, the Kiwi bowlers failed to put pressure on the Indian batsmen, allowing India to completely control the match.
Amir said, "I don't understand the changes made to New Zealand's bowling. Even when the team knew that Abhishek Sharma struggled against spin, spin was not used much." Aamir said that he has followed the New Zealand team since 2005, but this was the first time he saw the team play under such pressure.
The Pakistani bowler believed that India proved in this match that not only bowlers but also batsmen can win major tournaments. Aamir had predicted that India would not reach the semi-finals and finals, but India not only reached the final by defeating England in the semi-finals, but also won the title by defeating New Zealand by a huge margin of 96 runs in the final. Following India's victory, Aamir faced criticism from Indian cricket fans on social media.
How India won the T20 World Cup 2026
The Indian team performed brilliantly in every department in the final. Batting first, India posted a mammoth total of 255/5 in 20 overs. Sanju Samson played a brilliant innings of 89 runs off 46 balls, while Abhishek Sharma gave the team a quick start by scoring 52 runs off 21 balls. Ishan Kishan then played a quick innings of 54 runs off 25 balls, and finally, Shivam Dubey scored an unbeaten 26 runs off eight balls to take the score to 255.
The bowlers also performed brilliantly. Chasing the target, New Zealand got off to a good start, with Tim Seifert scoring 52 runs in 26 balls. However, the Indian bowlers then took complete control of the match. Jasprit Bumrah bowled lethally, taking 4/15, while Axar Patel took 3/27 to shatter the Kiwi batting. Ultimately, India won by 96 runs, making history. Team India became the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup, and it was also the first time the hosts won the title.
Who is Aditi Hundia, who was seen celebrating with Ishan Kishan after winning the World Cup? See photos.
The Indian team became the first team to win the T20 World Cup for the second consecutive time. Previously, India had won the World Cup in 2024 by defeating South Africa.
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