IND vs NZ

12:10 AM local time and IST: That will be all from the coverage of what has been an incredible tournament, spanning across 4 weeks! Well played New Zealand, you deserved to be in the Final! And of course, heartiest congratulations, Team India! You have won this trophy thrice, managed to defend it, and, live up to your tag of being the favourites! That's massive! 

From Pradeep, Sourabh, Bidipto, and everyone who has been part of this tournament's coverage, for all of you, it is good bye and good night. We loved bringing the games to you, every single time! Keep following Sportskeeda! 

11:57 PM local time and IST: The entire Indian team, with all the support staff members, have gathered together. And, the moment is here! ICC Chair, Jay Shah, hands over the T20 World Cup to Suryakumar Yadav, and, the Men In Blue, hold the trophy aloft, and celebrate! With them, the entire nation celebrates! Time for the photos, time for the memories. Time, for the entire cricketing fraternity in this great country, to feel proud of this magnificent team! 

The players now do the lap of honour. They soak it all in. They pose in front of the champions board. They share these moments with their near and dear ones. Why? Because they deserve all of it! These moments don't come everyday. These moments don't come without hard work. These efforts are special, because they are earned. Team India has done all of it and now, they are worthy of cherishing these times! 

Skipper Surya touches the pitch, seeks its blessings and does not forget to thank the almighty, something that this great country's culture has taught him! Every Indian player is extremely happy, but, they never forget to thank all and sundry, whose efforts have made this moment and this achievement possible! 

The coaching staff can be seen taking in all the applause, and thanking one another. Their efforts too, cannot be undermined, or sidelined. Team effort, in a team game, all the time! 

Suryakumar Yadav, Indian captain: (Has it sunk in?) I think it will take a little bit of time but definitely very happy with what has happened today. Started post 2024 WC, when BCCI, Jay bhai, secretary at that time, Rohit bhai and everyone showed faith in men and gave me an opportunity to lead this wonderful side. Long cycle, coming here again at the Shri Narendra Modi Stadium and doing it, it is a special feeling.

(How do they keep the pressure way of being the favorites?) We knew we were playing good cricket throughout the two years, it was going really well. We wanted to follow the good habits that we had in the 2024 WC, tell the boys what is the feeling of winning the world cup, how do we want to go in bilaterals and the taste, it was imbibed by everyone

(backing the players) Really important to understand what they are capable of. Perfect timing for Sanju to come in, Abhishek and Varun are World number 1 players, special mention to Bumrah, Hardik and Axar who have been there in the system since a long time, took care of each other

(How does it feel to have the magician Bumrah in the team?) As Sanju said in the last game, I can say that he is once in a generation player. Knows what is to be done, how it is to be done and he is the best in the business

Mitchell Santner [New Zealand captain]: "(On reaching the World Cup final) I’m really proud of the group for making it this far. We faced quite a few challenges throughout the tournament, but at every stage the boys found a way to respond and put on strong performances. Tonight, though, we were outplayed by a very good Indian side in front of a fantastic crowd. Even so, there’s a lot for the team to be proud of from this campaign. (On the reception from the Ahmedabad crowd) Crowds in this part of the world are always incredible. Of course, it was a sea of blue out there with India playing at home, but the atmosphere was still special. Winning a World Cup on home soil comes with immense pressure, and credit must go to Suryakumar Yadav and his team for handling that and delivering the title. (On New Zealand’s journey in the tournament) Different players stepped up at different moments during the tournament, which helped us navigate some tough situations along the way. We managed to overcome those challenges through the Super 8s and produced a strong performance in the semifinal to reach the final. Unfortunately, tonight India were the better side, but the boys can still hold their heads high for what they achieved in this tournament."

11:10 PM local and IST: A dazzling drone display lights up the night sky, forming the Indian flag above the stadium. Moments later, the drones shift into formation again, this time outlining the iconic World Cup trophy.

The families of the players and the support staff are savoring in the moments with them on the field, lots of hugs all around and the tricolor is wrapped around them. Fans are dancing along in the stands, the same stands which saw tears roll down thousands of cheeks back in 2023 once again has thousands of teary-eyes but this time it is the tears of joys. The people of India, the fans of this incredible team have travelled from the length and breadth of this country to be present at the venue tonight, some via air, some completed overnight journeys by road and some came in via special trains arranged by the Governement of India and each one of them has had their money's worth tonight

Rohit Sharma is out there too amongst the players, celebrating with his very own players. Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan dancing their hearts out. SKY, Samson, Dube, all have their wives by their sides. Axar and Varun playing with their kids. Arshdeep's family is there too, so is Abhishek's. Head coach Gautam Gambhir's family is present too on the field, lots of photographs being clicked and we can already see them being uploaded across platforms on social media. Everyone, including us, now waiting for the post-match ceremony

Sanju Samson is the Player of the Tournament! He has scored 321 runs in 5 innings at an average of 80.25. Here are his thoughts.

Sanju Samson: "(First thoughts) It feels like a dream! Very happy, extremely grateful! Just surreal!.......

(On the preparation and the lead-up) It all started with the previous World Cup, I couldn't play any game in the previous edition, but, I kept believing in myself and kept the dream alive. I wasn't sure about things to be honest, but, getting the opportunities, I cashed in on them......

(On the guidance to keep going) I have taken advices from the senior players in the team, I am in constant touch with Sachin Tendulkar sir, getting the advice from him...well, what more can I ask for?!......

(On the moments and days to follow) The moment will have to sink in, a few days will be needed!"

Jasprit Bumrah is the Player of the Match! Here's what he says: "(On winning the World Cup final at his home venue) This victory feels extremely special. I had previously played a final at my home venue and couldn’t win that one, so to lift the World Cup here means a lot. I was very clear about what I wanted to do today. The pitch was quite flat, but having played so much cricket here, I relied on my experience and stuck to the plan. Everything came together perfectly, and I’m incredibly grateful for a day like this. (On his mindset and approach throughout the tournament) Before the tournament, I felt I might have been trying a bit too hard despite bowling well. In this format, I realised it’s important to let the game come to you. My focus was on preparing well, reading situations, and trusting my instincts. That clarity helped me throughout the tournament, and it’s very satisfying to see it pay off — especially to win the Player of the Match award in a World Cup final at the ground where I started my cricket. (On varying pace and using experience on batting-friendly pitches) Playing on flat surfaces like this teaches you that bowling too fast can sometimes make scoring easier for batters. The key is to be smart — vary your pace, read the batter’s intent, and anticipate their plans. Those adjustments, along with clear execution, helped me pick up important wickets. (On the bowling unit’s collective effort) The entire bowling group has been excellent. Everyone is very clear about their roles and always comes prepared with their options. Communication was strong throughout the tournament, and even when games got tight, we stayed calm and trusted our plans. Teams that hold their nerve in those moments usually go on to win tournaments, and we’re delighted that we managed to do just that.  (On the support from the crowd) The support from the crowd here was incredible. They were behind us throughout the game, and that energy really lifts the team. We’re extremely thankful for the backing we received."