India scripted history with a dominant 96-run victory over the New Zealand in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The triumph marked a historic moment for Indian cricket as the team became the first side to win the tournament three times, the first to successfully defend the title, and also the first to lift the T20 World Cup trophy on home soil.
Following the memorable victory, former India captain MS Dhoni congratulated the team and support staff, calling it a proud moment for the nation. Dhoni, who famously led India to the inaugural T20 World Cup title in 2007, shared a rare message on social media praising the team’s fearless brand of cricket throughout the tournament.
“History gets created at Ahmedabad. Big congratulations to the team and support staff and to all the fans of the Indian cricket team worldwide. Such a pleasure to see all of you play. Coach Sahab, the smile looks great on you — intensity with a smile is a killer combo. Very well done. Enjoy guys,” Dhoni wrote on Instagram.
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The former skipper also had special praise for head coach Gautam Gambhir, who guided the team to the historic triumph. Dhoni and Gambhir had earlier shared the dressing room during India’s famous victories in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Meanwhile, Gambhir emphasized that his accountability lies only with the players and staff inside the dressing room, not with opinions on social media. “My accountability is not for people on social media. My accountability is to those 30 people in that change room,” Gambhir said after the match.
The former India opener credited the players for the achievement, stating that a coach is only as good as his team and that the players themselves shaped him into the coach he is today.
Despite celebrating the historic win, Gambhir acknowledged the contributions of former head coach Rahul Dravid and National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman. He dedicated the trophy to both stalwarts, praising Dravid for placing the Indian team in a strong position after the 2024 triumph and Laxman for building a strong talent pipeline at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.