The much-awaited final of the T20 World Cup 2026 is mere hours away, with Team India set to clash against New Zealand on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar is particularly keen on the intriguing battle between India’s vice-captain Axar Patel and New Zealand’s dynamic all-rounder Glenn Phillips. Bangar shared his thoughts on why this matchup captivates him.
“What gives Axar an edge is his ability to bowl fuller lengths when a batter attempts to sweep him. We’ve witnessed this tactic throughout the World Cup. He can bamboozle batters with those fuller deliveries, which makes the duel between Axar and Phillips quite fascinating,” he noted.
He added that Phillips is known for applying pressure right from the first ball, suggesting that Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav would be eager to bring Axar into the attack when Phillips comes to the crease in Ahmedabad.
“If Axar bowls during the powerplay, some of his overs should be preserved for Phillips. Phillips has shown he can handle spin effectively. Initially seen as a pace hitter, his game has evolved remarkably. In the group stage in Chennai, he took on Rashid Khan with ease, putting pressure on the opposition from the outset. Axar has a solid record against Phillips and will aim to contain him. Captain Surya would certainly prefer to have Axar on hand when Phillips steps up to bat,” Bangar explained.
As the ‘Men in Blue’ gear up for the finals, they will be looking to their in-form wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, who has displayed exceptional batting prowess in recent matches. Contributions from star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will also be vital for India’s success.
Meanwhile, the ‘Black Caps’ will hope that their opener Finn Allen can replicate his standout performance from the previous match against South Africa.
**T20 World Cup 2026 Final: Full Squads**
**India:** Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav.
**New Zealand:** Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner(c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.