Overview:
At the Narendra Modi Stadium, India are featuring in their 11th T20I here. India have claimed seven wins and three defeats from 10 games. Their 2 defeats have been against England and one against South Africa. New Zealand have played twice here and have lost both these games.
India and New Zealand gear up for the final encounter of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, starting March 8. India are aiming to defend their title, having won the same in 2024. Overall, they are aiming to win their 3rd title (also in 2007) and become the 1st side to attain this feat. On the other hand, the Kiwis are looking to win their maiden T20 World Cup.
India are in their 4th T20 World Cup final, whereas the Kiwis are playing their 2nd such final. It will be a massive contest with silverware on line. A packed Narendra Modi Stadium awaits the two teams. For New Zealand, it will be to silence the crowd just like how Australia did in the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
India T20 World Cup squad
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.
India are expected to continue with their winning combination. There have been calls to drop Varun Chakravarthy for Kuldeep Yadav and Abhishek Sharma for Rinku Singh. However, one expects to see no changes and a similar XI on offer.
New Zealand T20 World Cup squad
Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy
New Zealand will be keen to feed on the pressure on Team India to deliver. They will come as the underdogs and put up a fight. They tamed a superior South Africa side in the semis, and a similar show against India will be something magical.
What is the H2H record between India and New Zealand?
In terms of the head-to-head record, the two sides have met 3 times at the T20 World Cup. The Kiwis own a 3-0 win-loss record. Overall, in T20Is, the teams have clashed 30 times. India own 16 wins compared to New Zealand’s 11. Three games have been tied.
Probable XI of both teams
India probable XI for the match against NZ
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakarvarthy.
NZ probable XI for the match versus IND
Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson.
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad & Key Details of the Stadium
The Narendra Modi Stadium is the largest cricket stadium in the world. It can host up to 1,32,000 people. The stadium hosted the 2023 ODI World Cup final. It’s also set to be used at the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The first T20I held here was in 2021 between India and England.
What is the Pitch like at the Narendra Modi Stadium?
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to provide a balanced contest between bat and ball. Batters will need to show patience early on, as scoring freely may not be easy at the start. However, once set, they can accelerate and post strong totals, especially in the latter half of the innings. For bowlers, wickets may come at a premium due to the flat nature of the surface and the large outfield, which often turns good shots into singles rather than boundaries. Bowlers will need to work hard for wickets and bowl nice varieties and in tight channels.
Key Stats & Records at the Narendra Modi Stadium
A total of 14 T20I matches have been played at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
India are featuring in their 11th T20I here. India have claimed seven wins and three defeats from 10 games. Their 2 defeats have been against England and one against South Africa.
New Zealand have played twice here and have lost both these games.
India own the highest total here at this venue, scoring 234/4 versus New Zealand in February 2023. India also scored 231/5 versus South Africa in December 2025. India have the 3rd-highest score here as well, scoring 224/2 against England.
New Zealand’s score of 66 is the lowest total here. It was versus India in 2023. India’s 124/7 versus England in 2021 is the 2nd-lowest score.
Former T20I star Virat Kohli has scored the most runs here (258). Among active players, Hardik Pandya owns 227 runs.
Pandya owns the 2nd-most wickets here. He has 9 scalps. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen have bagged 11 scalps for the Proteas and are joint atop.
IND vs NZ: Weather Forecast – Will Rain Play a Role?
The night match is expected to take place under clear and warm conditions. Temperatures will settle around 23°C, feeling close to the actual temperature. Northwest winds at about 9 km/h, with gusts up to 20 km/h, are forecast. With 0% chance of rain or thunderstorms and clear skies, weather disruptions during the final are highly unlikely.
IND vs NZ: Pitch Advantage for Which Side?
All things considered, India are the favourites given the nature of the wicket and their form in T20Is. They have plenty of batting firepower, which can unsettle the Kiwi unit. However, New Zealand will also provide a stern test. They cannot be taken lightly in a big final.
FAQs – Pitch Report for Narendra Modi Stadium
What is the pitch report for Narendra Modi Stadium
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to provide a balanced contest between bat and ball. Batters will need to show patience early on, as scoring freely may not be easy at the start. However, once set, they can accelerate and post strong totals, especially in the latter half of the innings. For bowlers, wickets may come at a premium due to the flat nature of the surface and the large outfield, which often turns good shots into singles rather than boundaries. Bowlers will need to work hard for wickets and bowl nice varieties and in tight channels.
What is IND and NZ’s record at the Narendra Modi Stadium?
At the Narendra Modi Stadium, India are featuring in their 11th T20I here. India have claimed seven wins and three defeats from 10 games. Their 2 defeats have been against England and one against South Africa. New Zealand have played twice here and have lost both these games.