Highest score in T20 World Cup final: India batters put on run-fest in Ahmedabad against New Zealand

Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan led India to 255 for five against New Zealand in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, the highest total in a men’s T20 World Cup final.

Samson scored 89, while Abhishek made 52 and Kishan added 54 as defending champions India set a target of 256 for the Blackcaps.




India also recorded the highest T20 score in Ahmedabad. It was also the third-highest team total in T20 World Cup history and slightly higher than the score India posted against England in Mumbai three nights earlier.

Also See: India vs New Zealand Live Score T20 World Cup 2026 Final

Highest team totals in T20 World Cup

• 260/6 – Sri Lanka vs Kenya, Johannesburg, 2007
• 256/4 – India vs Zimbabwe, Chennai, 2026
• 255/5 – India vs New Zealand, Ahmedabad, 2026 Final
• 254/6 – West Indies vs Zimbabwe, Mumbai, 2026
• 253/7 – India vs England, Mumbai, 2026 Semifinal
• 246/7 – England vs India, Mumbai, 2026 Semifinal

This was India’s fourth score of 250 or more in 2026, the most by any team in a calendar year.

After New Zealand chose to field, Samson and Abhishek attacked from the start, hitting boundaries and sixes.

The pair added 98 runs for the first wicket in 7.1 overs to set up the innings. Kishan continued the momentum with 54 from 25 balls.

India crossed the 200-run mark in the 15th over.

New Zealand slowed the scoring when James Neesham dismissed Samson, Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav (0) within six deliveries in the 16th over.

Hardik Pandya scored 18 before getting out, while Shivam Dube remained unbeaten on 26 and added runs at the end. Dube took 24 runs from the final over bowled by Neesham.

India scored 52 runs in the last five overs.

New Zealand now need 256 to win. The target is higher than the total set by England in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup Final.

Brief Scores:India: 255 for 5 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Ishan Kishan 54, Abhishek Sharma 52; James Neesham 3/46).

Get the latest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs ENG Live Score updates, including the full schedule, teams, points table, and key series stats such as top run-scorers and wicket-takers.