AHMEDABAD: India’s right-arm opener Sanju Samson equaled Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi’s 17-year-old record with a half-century against New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
Samson’s half-century was his third in his previous T20 World Cup matches, having achieved milestones in the Super Eights against West Indies and the semi-final against England.
The result made the 31-year-old only the third player to score a half-century in both the semi-final and final of the Men’s T20 World Cup, joining Pakistan’s Afridi and compatriot Virat Kohli.
Afridi first achieved the feat by scoring half-centuries in the 2009 semi-final and final, while Kohli followed suit in the 2014 edition.
Batsmen to score half-centuries in T20 World Cup semi-final and final
- Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – in 2009
- Virat Kohli (India) – in 2014
- Sanju Samson (India) – in 2026
James Neesham was dismissed in the 16th over of the Indian innings, scoring a blistering 89 off 46 balls with 8 sixes and 5 fours.
His 89 in a T20 World Cup final is now the highest individual score, beating West Indies’ Marlon Samuels’ previous best of 85 against England in the 2016 final.
Highest Individual Scores in a T20 World Cup Final: