MS Dhoni Celebrates India's Historic T20 World Cup Victory
Dhoni's Praise for Team India
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], January 9: In the wake of India's triumphant T20 World Cup victory, cricketing icon MS Dhoni, who led the team to its first title in 2007, expressed his admiration for the squad. He humorously complimented head coach Gautam Gambhir, remarking that "intensity combined with a smile is a powerful mix."
A Historic Win
India made history in Ahmedabad by becoming the first nation to clinch three T20 World Cup titles, successfully defending their championship and winning on home soil by defeating New Zealand by 96 runs. Dhoni also recognized Jasprit Bumrah, who was named 'Player of the Match' in the final, calling him a 'Champion bowler.'
Dhoni's Instagram Tribute
On Instagram, Dhoni shared his thoughts, stating, "History is made in Ahmedabad. Congratulations to the team, support staff, and fans of the Indian Cricket Team worldwide. It’s a joy to witness your performance. Coach Sahab’s smile suits you well; intensity with a smile is a killer combo. Great job, everyone! (It's better if I don’t say much about BUMRAH. CHAMPION BOWLER)."
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Match Highlights
In the final match, New Zealand won the toss and opted to field first. However, a remarkable performance from Abhishek Sharma, who scored 52 runs off just 21 balls, alongside a 98-run partnership with Samson, made New Zealand regret their decision. Samson later formed a century partnership with Ishan Kishan, who contributed 54 runs off 25 balls, helping India surpass the 200-run mark by the 16th over. After a slight slowdown, Shivam Dube added crucial runs, finishing with 26 not out off 8 balls, leading India to a record total of 255/5, the highest in T20 World Cup finals.
James Neesham was the standout bowler for New Zealand, taking 3 wickets for 46 runs.
In their chase of 256 runs, New Zealand struggled, with Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah taking 3/23 and 4/15 respectively, reducing them to 72/5. Despite Tim Seifert's half-century (52 runs off 26 balls), the Kiwis could not recover, ultimately being bowled out for 159 runs.