The Aryavarth Express
Ahmedabad (Gujarat): The Indian cricket team created another milestone in men’s T20 cricket by registering its fourth 250-plus score of 2026, the most by any team in a single calendar year. The record-setting total came during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
India posted 255/5 in the final, continuing their remarkable batting dominance in the shortest format this year. Earlier in 2026, the team had already crossed the 250-run mark three times.
The first came during a bilateral series when India scored 271/5 against New Zealand in the fifth T20I at Thiruvananthapuram. During the T20 World Cup, India then registered 256/4 against Zimbabwe in the Super 8 stage in Chennai, followed by 253/7 against England in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
With the 255/5 total in the final, India completed four 250-plus scores in the same calendar year, setting a new benchmark in men’s T20 cricket.
The achievement also made India only the second team in men’s T20 history to record three 250-plus totals in a single tournament, after Sunrisers Hyderabad accomplished the feat during the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League.
Overall, India now leads the list for most 250-plus totals in men’s T20 cricket with seven. Sunrisers Hyderabad follow with five, while teams such as West Indies, Zimbabwe and Surrey have recorded three each.
In the World Cup final, New Zealand won the toss and chose to field, but India’s top order delivered a powerful performance. Abhishek Sharma returned to form with a blistering 52 off 21 balls, sharing a 98-run opening stand with Sanju Samson.
Samson then built another crucial partnership with Ishan Kishan, who scored a quick 54 off 25 balls, taking India past the 200-run mark in the 16th over.
After a brief slowdown in the closing overs, Shivam Dube provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 26 off just eight balls, helping India reach 255/5 — the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final.
For New Zealand, James Neesham was the most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 3/46 despite the heavy scoring by the Indian batters. 🏏
