India head coach Gautam Gambhir said the team’s recent success is the result of a conscious effort to build a new identity rather than relying on past achievements. Speaking after India defended their T20 World Cup title in 2026, Gambhir emphasized that his focus as coach has always been on creating something fresh and meaningful for the current generation of players.
India made history by becoming the first team to successfully defend the Men’s T20 World Cup title, securing their third championship in the tournament’s history. The victory came in front of more than 86,000 spectators at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where India defeated New Zealand in a dominant performance.
Reflecting on the journey, Gambhir explained that he never believed in simply inheriting a successful squad. Instead, his goal was to develop a distinct brand of cricket built on confidence and aggressive intent. According to him, the players embraced the challenge of playing fearless cricket and consistently pushing themselves to outperform their opponents.
Gambhir said the team’s objective was to establish a style of play that both the dressing room and the nation could take pride in. By encouraging a mindset free from fear of failure, he believes the squad has been able to perform with greater clarity and confidence during high-pressure matches.
India’s success in the final was built on powerful batting and disciplined bowling. Sanju Samson played a crucial role with a blistering innings of 89 runs from 46 deliveries, striking multiple boundaries and sixes to lead India to a massive total of 255 runs for five wickets. The score became the highest ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final.
The bowlers then ensured the advantage was maintained. Jasprit Bumrah produced an exceptional spell, claiming four wickets while conceding only 15 runs. Axar Patel also played a key role by taking three wickets and maintaining pressure on New Zealand’s batting lineup.
New Zealand struggled to keep up with the demanding target and were eventually bowled out for 159 runs in 19 overs. Tim Seifert offered some resistance with a quick half-century, but the rest of the lineup failed to build partnerships needed for a successful chase.
Gambhir believes that changing the team’s mindset was an important step in achieving sustained success. By encouraging players to focus on creating their own legacy rather than living in the shadow of previous teams, he feels the squad has developed a style of cricket that reflects both confidence and ambition.
According to the coach, this approach has allowed the team to produce consistent performances in global tournaments and deliver results that fans across the country can celebrate with pride.
