Sanju Samson’s 46-Ball 89 in T20 World Cup Final Breaks Virat Kohli’s Record

Sanju Samson delivered a sensational performance in the T20 World Cup final, smashing 89 off just 46 balls to register the highest score by an Indian batter in a World Cup final.

His explosive knock came at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where he powered India national cricket team to a commanding total against New Zealand national cricket team with a mix of composure, timing and aggressive strokeplay.

Highest Individual Scores in a T20 World Cup Final

Marlon Samuels – 95 vs England (2016)

Sanju Samson – 89 vs New Zealand (2026)

Kane Williamson – 85 vs Australia (2021)

With this knock, Samson also etched his name into the tournament’s record books. The wicketkeeper-batter had earlier scored a half-century in the semi-final and backed it up with another crucial fifty in the final. In doing so, he joined the elite list featuring Shahid Afridi and Virat Kohli as the only players to register fifties in both knockout matches of a single T20 World Cup edition. Afridi first achieved the milestone during Pakistan’s title-winning campaign in 2009, while Kohli repeated the feat for India in 2014.

Samson built his innings smartly after an aggressive start from Abhishek Sharma at the top. He reached his half-century in 33 balls, keeping the scoreboard ticking with well-timed boundaries and clever placement. Once settled, Samson shifted gears and began attacking the bowlers with authority.

He received strong support from Ishan Kishan, with the duo adding a rapid 50-run partnership in just 26 balls as India surged past the 150-run mark by the 12th over. Samson continued to dominate the attack before finishing with a remarkable 46-ball 89, setting a new benchmark for an Indian batter in a T20 World Cup final.

The innings also marked Samson’s third consecutive fifty-plus score in the tournament. He joined an elite group of players — including Mahela Jayawardene, Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, KL Rahul, Kusal Mendis and Sahibzada Farhan — to score three successive 50-plus innings in a T20 World Cup.