There are moments in sport when the gap between first and second is so vast that it transcends competition and becomes an exhibition. Sunday’s T20 World Cup final was one of those moments. India posted 255 and dismissed New Zealand for 159, winning by 96 runs in a final that served as confirmation of what any close observer already knew: India are playing a different game to everyone else right now.
Their batting in the powerplay was breathtaking. Ninety-two runs in six overs without loss, equalling the World Cup record. Their top three all reached fifty — Sharma in 18 balls, Kishan in 23, Samson in 33. By the 14th over they were 191 for one with six overs remaining and 300 seeming not just possible but probable.
The middle-overs wobble — four wickets including a bizarre Neesham over of one run and three wickets — prevented 300 being scored. But 255 was assembled, with Dube’s final-over assault contributing 24 runs from eight balls faced. The total was 96 more than New Zealand could manage, which tells you everything about the gap between these two teams on the night.
New Zealand’s reply lacked the firepower that India’s had. Allen, who had been so devastating in the semi-final, made nine. The top order combined for very little. Seifert’s fifty was the sole highlight for the Black Caps. Bumrah was merciless, his slow yorkers impossible to time and three of New Zealand’s batters paid the price.
India are world champions. For the second time. In succession. On home soil. No men’s team has ever done any of these things before India did them all at once on Sunday night. They are the best there has ever been at this format of the game.