India have never beaten New Zealand in T20 WC history:MS Dhoni’s runout to WTC 2021 heartbreak, Kiwis dominant in ICC events

India and New Zealand will lock horns in what promises to be an absolute blockbuster of a T20 World Cup 2026 final. The Narendra Modi Stadium, which has not been a happy hunting ground for India in recent ICC events, will host the all-important clash on 8 March. Ardent cricket fans would remember that it was at this specific venue that an unbeaten India had lost to Australia in the final of the 2023 World Cup. Not very long ago, India’s 17-match winning streak in ICC white-ball events was brought to an end by South Africa in this edition of the T20 World Cup. Well, India won’t just have to deal with the ‘Ahmedabad jinx’ but also an unwanted record against New Zealand. India are yet to beat New Zealand in the T20 World Cup. India in search of first T20 WC win over New Zealand It might sound baffling, but it’s true. India have never been able to beat New Zealand in a T20 World Cup match. So far, the two teams have had three meetings in 10 editions of the tournament, with the Kiwis always coming out on top. The first time India and New Zealand faced each other in the T20 World Cup was way back at the inaugural edition, in 2007. India and New Zealand’s T20 World Cup meeting took place in 2016, where the Kiwis stunned the Men in Blue in their own backyard. The last time India and New Zealand faced each other in the T20 World Cup was in 2021, where the Men in Blue once again were beaten by the Kiwis. Will that script change this time as they meet in the T20 World Cup 2026 final? Also read: Team India’s plans to end ‘Ahmedabad jinx’: Staying at different hotel from 2023, to use visiting team’s dressing room MS Dhoni’s run out in India’s loss at 2007 T20 WC India and New Zealand met for the first time in the maiden edition of the T20 World Cup in South Africa. It was a crunch group game where New Zealand were asked to bat first by MS Dhoni. New Zealand were all out for 190 in 20 overs, with Brendon McCullum (45), Craig McMillan (44) and Jacob Oram (35) being the highest scorers. For India, RP Singh and Harbhajan Singh took two wickets each. One of the biggest moments of the chase came when MS Dhoni was run out in the 14th over. The Indian captain was caught in a mix-up with Dinesh Karthik who turned away a single. Dhoni was run out at the non-striker’s end for 24. In response, India were restricted to 180/9. Gautam Gambhir scored a 33-ball 51 while Virender Sehwag smashed 40 runs off just 17 balls. Apart from them, there weren’t any other contributions of note, with S Sreesanth hitting 19 off 10 lower down the order. 2016- India’s batting flops in Nagpur The two teams did not meet again in the T20 World Cup before 2016. This time, it was in India, with Nagpur being the venue. New Zealand once again batted first and scored just 126/7. India were the favourites, given that the tournament was being played at home. But what followed was an absolute shocker. Chasing 127, India were shot out for just 79. MS Dhoni (30) and Virat Kohli (23) were the highest scorers but it weren’t enough for India to come out on top. Also read: IND vs ENG breaks digital viewership record: Semifinal becomes most-watched live event with 65.2 million viewers India’s batters struggle again in 2021 The next meeting between these two teams saw India once again fall short. And it was once again a poor show with the bat in hand. India, batting first in a must-win game after losing to Pakistan, could manage just 110/7. Virat Kohli (5), Rohit Sharma (14) and KL Rahul (18) failed to make a mark. And New Zealand, chasing 111, got past the finish line in 14.3 overs. That defeat proved to be costly as India were eventually knocked out of the tournament in the group stage. Suryakumar Yadav leads run-scoring charts vs NZ Suryakumar Yadav is the highest run-scorer in India vs New Zealand T20Is. The Indian captain has hit 526 runs in 13 matches with a highest score of 111*. New Zealand’s highest run-scorer against India in T20Is is Colin Munro (426), who retired from all formats in 2024. Tim Seifert, who has been in red-hot form in the T20 World Cup 2026, is just one run away from going past Munro. Ish Sodhi, highest wicket-taker in India vs New Zealand T20Is New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi is the highest wicket-taker for his team in T20Is against India. The Indian-origin bowler, who is part of the current T20 World Cup squad has picked up 30 wickets in 25 games. NZ captain Mitchell Santner sits second with 23 wickets. For India, the highest wicket-taker in T20Is against New Zealand has been Arshdeep Singh, with 17 scalps in 9 games. Jasprit Bumrah is just behind him, with 16 wickets in 14 matches. India vs New Zealand head-to-head in T20Is India have met New Zealand for a total of 30 times in T20 World Cups. And India have the upper hand when it comes to head-to-head records, coming out on top 16 times. New Zealand have won 11 times while three games have been tied. India and New Zealand most recently faced each other in a five-match T20I series before the T20 World Cup, which the Men in Blue won 4-1. Will India be able to beat New Zealand again? New Zealand dominant against India in ICC knockouts New Zealand have traditionally been dominant against India in ICC knockout matches. New Zealand had defeated India in the 2000 Champions Trophy final (then called the Knockout Trophy). The Kiwis had memorably outclassed India in the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal, a match which ended up being MS Dhoni’s last in international cricket. The two teams also met in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, where New Zealand broke Indian hearts once again. India, however, got some redemption over New Zealand by beating the Kiwis in the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal and the final of the 2025 Champions Trophy. India and New Zealand set for historic T20 World Cup final
India and New Zealand will become the first teams to face each other in the finals of ICC events across all formats. India and New Zealand first met in the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy final (ODI format), where the Kiwis came out on top. In 2021, India and New Zealand featured in the first-ever World Test Championship (WTC) final. The two teams went up against each other in the Champions Trophy final last year. Now, it will be the first time that India and New Zealand will battle each other in the final of a T20 World Cup.