'India deserved the title': Ex-Pakistan captain lauds Samson, Bumrah for outstanding T20 World Cup show

Legendary all-rounder and former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi praised India for becoming the first team in history to defend the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title. In a video on X, Afridi said India deserved the win after they crushed New Zealand by 96 runs on Sunday, March 8, to lift the 2026 T20 World Cup.

“The World Cup is over. I think India deserved the title. They have a great team combination. The players sitting on the bench were also as good as the playing XI. This is why I say that your bench needs to be strong. India’s bench was very strong; they could have picked anyone from there and slotted them into the playing XI. They played the whole tournament as champions," Afridi said in a video on his X account.



According to Afridi, Bumrah is one of the best bowlers, who has carried India on his back for a long time with his impressive performances.

Afridi also praised the performances of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan for their important contributions to India’s win.

“Sanju Samson was outstanding. He got the opportunity and he delivered with his sensible hitting and his ability to build the innings. Abhishek Sharma also performed well tonight. Ishan Kishan also performed outstandingly, just like he had performed against Pakistan. Jasprit Bumrah was the backbone of their bowling who has carried India on his back for a long time with his impressive performances. Be it with the new ball, old ball, slower one or yorker, he is one of the best bowlers in my opinion," he added.

India made history by winning the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, successfully defending their title and becoming the first team ever to retain the trophy. They also became the first country to win the Men’s T20 World Cup on home soil. With this victory, India has now won the T20 World Cup three times, in 2007, 2024, and 2026, the most by any team in the tournament’s history.