India's players, coaches, and support staff celebrate with the trophy after winning the T20 World Cup final match against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, India. (AP )

AHMEDABAD, India, March 9 (AP): India won the T20 World Cup for a record third time with a crushing 96-run victory over New Zealand on Sunday to the delight of more than 86,000 cricket fans at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Defending champion India scored an imposing 255-5 in the final after losing the toss and batting first. Opener Sanju Samson hit a brilliant 46-ball 89, in his third straight 50. New Zealand never posed a genuine threat in its chase and was all out for 159 in 19 overs. India pacer Jasprit Bumrah took 4-15 in four overs, and Axar Patel picked up 3-27 in three overs. New Zealand opener Tim Seifert scored a 26-ball 52 with five sixes.

India, which won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and 2024, became the first country to successfully defend its title. India won the 2024 final against South Africa by seven runs, but dominated Sunday from the start. New Zealand was aiming for its first T20 World Cup triumph.

It also finished as runner-up in the 2021 final, losing to Australia in Dubai. Abhishek Sharma roared into form as he hit three sixes and six fours in his 21-ball 52, reaching his half-century in only 18 balls. Samson took to the skies as well, hitting eight sixes in all, as the duo reached 50 off only 24 deliveries.

India's 92-0 was the joint highest power play score in any T20 World Cup match, equaling West Indies' 92-1 against Afghanistan in the 2024 edition. It proved a superb base for building a formidable total, and India never really relinquished control of the game. Sharma was out caught behind in the eighth over, but Ishan Kishan and Samson added another 105 off 48 balls for the second wicket. Samson reached 50 off 33 balls - after 97 not out and 89 against West Indies and England, respectively - while Kishan powered to a third half-century in the tournament, coming off 23 balls. Samson’s 89 was the highest individual score in a men’s T20 World Cup final, and he was named player of the tournament for his 321 runs at an average of 80.25. "It feels like a dream, actually.

I am very happy and grateful, out of emotions and words," Samson said. India was past 200 in the 15th over, when it briefly stumbled. James Neesham picked up three wickets in the 16th over - Samson and Kishan were caught at long on, and then Suryakumar Yadav was out caught in the deep on the leg side for a first-ball duck. Shivam Dube's 26 not out off eight balls with two sixes helped India cross 250 yet again.