India’s victory over the New Zealand national cricket team in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 sparked celebrations across the cricketing world, with current and former members of the Indian women’s team joining fans in congratulating the men’s side on a memorable triumph.
India clinched their third men’s T20 World Cup title after defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in a dominant final. Batting first, India posted a massive 255/5 in 20 overs, setting the tone early in the contest. Sanju Samson led the charge with a brilliant 89 off 46 balls, striking eight sixes, while Ishan Kishan contributed a rapid 54 off 25 balls and Abhishek Sharma blasted 52 off 21 balls, helping India power past the 250-mark in a high-pressure final.
Chasing a daunting 256, New Zealand struggled to keep up with the required run rate from the outset. Opener Tim Seifert provided some resistance with 52 off 26 balls, while captain Mitchell Santner added 43, but the rest of the batting line-up found it difficult to counter India’s disciplined bowling attack. India eventually bowled New Zealand out for 159 in 19 overs, sealing a comprehensive victory. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with exceptional figures of 4/15, while Axar Patel chipped in with 3/27 to dismantle the middle order.
As the celebrations unfolded, several prominent women cricketers took to social media to applaud the achievement and share their pride in the team’s success. Former India captain Mithali Raj praised the team’s consistency and character throughout the tournament. Raj highlighted how difficult it is to maintain high standards across an entire World Cup campaign and commended the players for their collective effort.
“Congratulations to Team India on lifting their third ICC T20 World Cup. A remarkable campaign built on consistency, belief and collective brilliance. Winning back-to-back titles is never easy, but this team has shown incredible character throughout the tournament. A proud moment for Indian cricket and its fans around the world,” she wrote.
Former India opener and commentator Anjum Chopra also shared a celebratory message on X, applauding the new generation of Indian cricketers. In a playful Hindi line she wrote, “आखिर हमारे छोरे छोरियों से कम थोड़ी ना हैं,” translating to “After all, our boys are no less than the girls.” Chopra followed it with a message praising the current crop of players: “Congratulations #TeamIndia! Proud to see this generation of men and women cricketers outshine the world!” Her words highlighted the growth of Indian cricket across both the men’s and women’s games.
Legendary India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami also joined the chorus of praise. Before the final, Goswami had encouraged the team with a supportive message, writing, “The energy in the group has been amazing throughout the tournament. Go out there and enjoy every second of the final. Whole country is cheering for you.” After the victory, she reflected on the significance of the moment, posting, “What a journey from Wankhede to this! Seeing the team lift the trophy in front of this crowd is pure magic. This group has earned every bit of this glory!”
Current stars of the Indian women’s team celebrated the historic win as well. Smriti Mandhana shared an Instagram story congratulating the men’s team, writing, “Congratulations boys, what a tournament it has been.” Meanwhile, young batter Jemimah Rodrigues posted a picture of the team with three-star emojis, symbolizing India’s three T20 World Cup titles.
The reactions from India’s women cricketers reflected the deep sense of pride felt across the country’s cricketing community. While the men’s team celebrated a dominant victory on the field, the messages from some of India’s most accomplished women players highlighted the unity within Indian cricket, where achievements on the global stage are celebrated across teams, formats and generations.
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