India or New Zealand: Mohammad Amir picks winner of 2026 T20 World Cup final

 

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has been in the news since the start of the 2026 T20 World Cup due to his controversial comments. From regularly criticising Abhishek Sharma to taking a dig at Mohammad Kaif, Amir has remained in the limelight over the past month. On the eve of the 2026 T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand, Amir once again hogged the limelight for his comments. The retired pacer predicted the winner of the final and picked NZ over the Men in Blue.

"New Zealand will give a very tough time to India. Reaching the final is an achievement for both teams, but overall New Zealand look the stronger side in bowling, batting and fielding. I think they have the edge and they can defeat India in the final," Amir said.

India have never defeated NZ in a T20 World Cup game. The Black Caps defeated the two-time T20 WC winners in the 2007, 2016 and 2021 T20 WCs. India went on to win the inaugural edition of the ICC event.

Despite their forgettable past record against NZ, India enter the match as favourite. They are the team in form and have won three back-to-back games. NZ, on the other hand, lost their last game of the Super 8 stage. They defeated South Africa in the semi-final to punch their ticket to the summit clash.

All eyes will be on Sanju Samson once again. His presence has made a big difference and Samson's success will be the key to India's win. He scored an unbeaten 97 against West Indies and followed up with an 89-run knock against England in the semi-final.

NZ will have their hopes pinned on Matt Henry to get early wickets. The right-arm pacer famously toppled India's top order in the 2019 WC semi-final. The Indian batters might avoid taking risks against him.

The final of the 2026 T20 World Cup will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (March 8). The fixture will start at 7:00 PM IST. The Indian fans can enjoy the live action on Star Sports and the JioHotstar app.

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has officially picked New Zealand to win the 2026 T20 World Cup final against India.

Speaking on the Pakistani show Haarna Mana Hai, Amir argued that while both teams have strong batting lineups, the Black Caps hold the edge due to their superior bowling form and overall team balance. He specifically pointed out that India is currently over-reliant on individual brilliance—specifically from Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson—rather than performing as a complete unit.

Amir’s Key Reasoning:

• Bowling Strength: He believes New Zealand's bowling attack is in better form than India's, noting that apart from Bumrah, other Indian bowlers like Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakaravarthy have struggled.

• Venue Factor: Amir suggested the conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which offers pace and bounce, will suit New Zealand’s style of play better than India’s.

• Team Consistency: He praised New Zealand for their "complete" performance in the semi-final against South Africa, contrasting it with what he views as a "fragile" Indian side that has been bailed out by individual knocks.

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Context of the Prediction

It is worth noting that Amir has consistently predicted against India throughout this tournament. He previously claimed India would fail to reach the semi-finals and later predicted an England victory in the semi-final—both of which proved incorrect as India reached the final undefeated (save for one loss to South Africa in the Super 8s).

His comments have sparked a war of words with former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif, who dismissed Amir’s analysis as a play for attention. Amir retorted by citing his extensive T20 experience and critiquing the technique of younger players like Abhishek Sharma.

The final is set to take place today, March 8, 2026, in Ahmedabad.

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