T20 World Cup final,India vs New Zealand, Ahmedabad:On the back of three wins in a row, the Suryakumar Yadav-led Men in Blue would like to believe that they have all bases covered and are peaking at the right time ahead of the final against New Zealand, set to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8, 2026. While the middle-order that looked a bit out of sorts leading into the Super 8s has come to the party with crucial contributions coming from Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube, withSanju Samsonoffering stability at the top of the order. India's only area of concern remainsAbhishek Sharmaat the top of the order, and Varun Chakaravarthy in the bowling department.
Abhishek has not had the best of tournaments, and although his form might not justify a place in the playing XI, India would not make the mistake of leaving him out in the final in favour of Rinku Singh. The left-hander has his own way of playing the game, and while it might look stupid on occasions when things don't go his way, India picked him by evaluating the risk that he brings to the table - and along with it the rewards. Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir would know that if he stays for any length of time in the final, India will be in the driver's seat, and perhaps, we all can collectively agree that he is due for a big one.
For Varun Chakaravarthy, it seems as if he has lost a bit of confidence, having been taken for runs in the Super 8 stage and the semi-final against England. And for India, it would not be a bad idea to look for Kuldeep Yadav, who brings a lot of variety to the attack as well. The left-arm spinner has a unique knack for picking up wickets, and against a power-packed New Zealand side, he might be a great attacking option for Suryakumar Yadav. So changing that bit would make more sense for India than dropping Abhishek for Rinku.
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium can be a bit tacky batting first, and it settles down nicely in the second innings. That makes the toss very important for both sides, as batting second becomes a little easier, even more so if dew is expected to play a part. Having said that, runs on the board in a final can always come in handy, enough to cloud even the sharpest captain’s judgment.
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