Not Jasprit Bumrah! Virat Kohli bows down to CSK star after India’s T20 World Cup win

Former Team India captain Virat Kohli praised the Suryakumar Yadav-led side following their victory over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026 final. The 37-year-old batter also said that opener Sanju Samson, who won the Player of the Tournament, delivered when it mattered most in the competition.

India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8. The Men in Blue posted a massive total of 255 runs after being asked to bat first. In response, the Black Caps struggled throughout the chase and were bowled out for just 159 runs.

The Indian men's team broke multiple records in cricket history. They became the first team to win the T20 World Cup three times. They also became the first team to successfully defend their title. Furthermore, India became the first host nation to capture the crown.

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You Performed When It Mattered the Most - Virat Kohli on Sanju Samson

Following the final, Virat Kohli shared an Instagram story to praise Sanju Samson. Kohli stated that Samson stepped up in crucial matches and delivered remarkable performances.

“What a remarkable tournament from the most well deserved man of the tournament @imsanjusamson. You performed when it mattered the most. Really happy for you chetta,” Kohli wrote.

Virat Kohli's Instagram story for Sanju Samson. 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/1bvrG6sXpI

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 8, 2026

Earlier in the year, Samson managed only 46 runs in five matches against New Zealand. In this tournament, he scored 22 off 8 balls against Namibia and 24 off 15 balls against Zimbabwe.

However, India backed him for the crunch matches. He smashed three consecutive half-centuries. The opener scored 97 not out against the West Indies, 89 against England, and 89 against the Kiwis. He finished the tournament with 321 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 199.37.

Absolutely No One Could Come Close to This - Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli shared a special post on Instagram to congratulate the team. The former Indian skipper stated that Indian cricketers showed great character under pressure throughout the tournament.

“Champions once again ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Phenomenal victory for us in the big final at Ahmedabad. Great character shown by the boys under pressure throughout the tournament and absolutely no one could come close to this talented bunch of players. Congratulations to the whole management and the whole support staff group for being part of this amazing feat. Very well deserved. Jai Hind 🇮🇳❤️.”

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A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli)

India batted first in the final and posted a total of 255/5. Sanju Samson scored 89 runs off 46 balls, smashing five fours and eight sixes. Abhishek Sharma smashed 52 runs off 21 balls while Ishan Kishan added 54 runs off 25 balls.

New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals during their run chase. They failed to build partnerships and were bowled out for 159 runs in 19 overs. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah destroyed the batting lineup. He took four wickets for just 15 runs in his four overs. Axar Patel secured three wickets for 27 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah was named the Player of the Match for his great bowling. Bumrah also finished as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. He took 14 wickets in eight games at an excellent average of 12.42 and an economy rate of 6.21.

Also read: ‘No black jerseys’: Suryakumar Yadav bars New Zealand fans from entering Narendra Modi Stadium