Hardik Pandya drops easy catch as Mitchell Santner survives

Hardik Pandya dropped a sitter. It was an easy catch at the backward point. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner got a lifeline in a crucial moment of the run chase in the T20 World Cup 2026 Final match in Ahmedabad.

On the first delivery of the 13^th over of the second innings, Axar Patel pitched a tricky delivery to Mitchell Santner. The delivery was away from the off stump, round the wicket, for which the batter needed to stretch his arms. With the growing asking rate, Santner had no option but to swing his willow.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner received a lifeline as Hardik Pandya put down an easy catch

The ball met the toe end of the bat and went towards the backward point where Hardik Pandya was posted. It was a routine catch, but he put it down. The captain of the New Zealand cricket team got an extra lifeline.

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In the same over, on the 5^th delivery, Axar Patel clinched the Daryl Mitchell from the track. A huge wicket for the Men in Blue, as Daryl could make trouble for the bowlers. The eventful 13^th over of the second innings contained a drop catch, the wicket of Daryl Mitchell, a couple of 4s, a single, and a couple of dot balls as well.

Hardik Pandya had a tough evening in Ahmedabad

Hardik Pandya sustained a tough evening in Ahmedabad. With the bat, the middle-order batter smashed a four and a six to score 18 runs in 13 deliveries. New Zealand pacer Matt Henry dismissed the batter who could be very dangerous.

With the ball, the seam bowling all-rounder delivered 4 overs to take the wicket of New Zealand’s middle-order batter Mark Chapman, against 36 runs. Surely, Hardik is not among the best players of the night. Though his presence remains as one of the central characters on the field at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

India creates history, back-to-back T20I World Cup trophies for the team

Mitchell Santner tried to turn the tables, scoring 43 runs in 35 balls. His fighting knock was supported by three 4s and a couple of 6s. India star pacer Jasprit Bumrah took Santner’s wicket. In the 18^th over, Bumrah dismantled the stumps of the opposing team’s skipper. Hardik Pandya must have taken a breath of relief.

Santner’s effort went in vein by miles, as Team India won the match by 97 runs. Back-to-back T20 World Cup titles for the Men in Blue brigade. In 2024, India won the trophy under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. Now, in Ahmedabad, Suryakumar Yadav guided the team for an epic moment. India outclassed New Zealand in all departments.

Against India’s massive total of 255 runs, New Zealand managed to get only 159 runs for all of their 10 batters. India won the match by 96 runs and has one more over in hand. Jasprit Bumrah took 4 wickets in 4 overs, with an economy rate of 3.75.

Read More: Ishan Kishan takes a BLINDER to dismiss Rachin Ravindra off Jasprit Bumrah's first ball