Laxmi Ratan Shukla Backs Team India Ahead of T20 World Cup Final Against New Zealand

As the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final approaches, former cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla has voiced his support for Team India, highlighting the team's strong performance and key players like Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. With New Zealand as their opponent, Shukla and other former players express optimism about India's chances, emphasizing the importance of maintaining their current form. The journey to the final has seen contrasting paths for both teams, with India remaining unbeaten in the group stage and New Zealand bouncing back from earlier losses. This final promises to be a thrilling encounter.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 8, 2026, 15:26 IST

Support from Former Cricketer

On Sunday, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, a former cricketer and current minister in West Bengal, expressed his encouragement for Team India as they prepare for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand. He emphasized the importance of maintaining their tournament form and expressed confidence in players like Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Shukla wished the team success ahead of the crucial match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. New Zealand reached the finals after defeating South Africa in the semifinals, while India secured a thrilling seven-run victory over England in Mumbai.

Ex-Cricketers Share Optimism

In an interview, Shukla described the day as historic and expressed his belief in the capabilities of players such as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan. He acknowledged New Zealand's strength but remained optimistic about India's chances if they continue their current performance. "Today marks a historic occasion. We trust in Abhishek Sharma's abilities. Sanju Samson is in excellent form, and Ishan Kishan is performing well. New Zealand is a formidable opponent, but India can excel if they maintain their gameplay. Best wishes to the team," he stated.

Sambaran Banerjee, a former national selector, also weighed in on the significance of the match, highlighting the importance of Jasprit Bumrah's bowling. He noted that Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are expected to open the innings. Banerjee remarked, "This is a significant match in a large stadium. I hope India performs well today. Whoever wins the toss should bowl first, as Jasprit Bumrah's bowling will be crucial."

Journey to the T20 World Cup 2026 Final

India and New Zealand took contrasting paths to reach the T20 World Cup 2026 final. New Zealand bounced back from group-stage defeats against South Africa and England, showcasing dominance in the semifinals by chasing down 170 runs against South Africa with a remarkable nine-wicket victory in just 12.5 overs, featuring Finn Allen's record-breaking 33-ball century—the fastest in T20 World Cup history. Meanwhile, India remained unbeaten in the group stage, with the exception of a Super 8s loss to South Africa, and secured a thrilling seven-run win over England in the semifinals after scoring 253/7 in their innings.

Head-to-Head and Recent Performance

Historically, New Zealand has never lost to India in T20 World Cups (2007, 2016, 2021). However, India's recent 4-1 T20I series victory over New Zealand in India provides them with a psychological edge as they head into the final.