India produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium, securing back-to-back T20 World Cup titles.
New Zealand will "not mind breaking a few hearts" in the T20 World Cup final against defending champions and hosts India, captain Mitchell Santner said on Saturday.
Opener Finn Allen has long been regarded as the hardest hitter of a cricket ball in New Zealand and his performance in taking his side to the T20 World Cup final showed just why.
With his ability to bowl yorkers at will, Jasprit Bumrah is India's main weapon as they hunt for their third T20 World Cup title on Sunday, and he will carry the hopes of a billion-plus fans in the cricket-obsessed country.
New Zealand's Matt Henry played a doting father to his new-born son back home and returned to help his team reach the T20 World Cup final, all in a space of five days.
On a night built for heroes, Finn Allen produced an innings for the ages, smashing an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls to send New Zealand storming into the T20 World Cup final with a crushing nine-wicket win over South Africa, sealing the chase with a staggering 43 balls to spare.
Just four of the 20 teams are now left standing as the T20 World Cup semi-finals take place this week. South Africa will face New Zealand in Kolkata on Wednesday, while defending champions India take on England in Mumbai the next day.
New Zealand qualified for the T20 World Cup semi-finals after Sri Lanka avoided a big defeat against Pakistan on Saturday in Kandy.
Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks smashed 44 off 16 balls to take England to a thrilling four-wicket T20 World Cup win in Colombo that denied New Zealand a guaranteed place in the semi-finals but kept Pakistan's slender hopes alive.
England bowling consultant Tim Southee admitted Thursday it will be "a little bit strange" to be in the opposing change room to New Zealand at the T20 World Cup.
New Zealand knocked co-hosts Sri Lanka out of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday with a 61-run win in Colombo that boosted their semi-final hopes.
Co-hosts Sri Lanka can win both their remaining Super Eight matches to rescue their faltering T20 World Cup campaign, starting with New Zealand, said spinner Dunith Wellalage on Tuesday.