Why Hardik Pandya is Batting at No 4 in IND vs NZ T20 World Cup Final?

India and New Zealand locked horns in the grand final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss and decided to field first, hoping his bowlers could restrict the hosts in the big game.

However, India’s top order played with positive intent from the beginning, as the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson laid a solid base during the early overs. The Indian management also surprised many by changing Hardik Pandya batting position by promoting him to bat at number four ahead of the skipper, Suryakumar Yadav.

Why Hardik Pandya is Batting at No 4?

One of the best allrounders in the world, Hardik Pandya, was sent in to bat at number 4, after Sanju Samson was dismissed for a breathtaking 89 runs knock. This move aimed at keeping the scoring rate high and building on the strong start. With runs already coming at a good pace and several power hitters still left to bat, the decision showed India’s aggressive approach to post a huge total in the title clash.

However, Hardik Pandya looked slightly off colour and could manage only 18 runs after being sent in to bat at no. 4, but courtesy of Shivam Dube's heroics in the final over, India managed to surpass the mark of 250 and posted a mammoth total of 255/5.

The Men in Blue in Firm Control During IND vs NZ Final 2026

India produced a powerful batting performance in the T20 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, delivering one of the strongest displays ever seen in the tournament’s title match. The opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson gave India a perfect start, building a fast partnership that helped the team reach one of the highest powerplay scores of the competition.

Abhishek played an explosive knock, scoring 52 runs and reaching his half-century in only 18 balls. Samson then continued the momentum and led the innings with an impressive 89 from 46 deliveries. Ishan Kishan also played an important role by scoring a quick 54 off 25 balls, which further increased the scoring rate.

Some useful runs from Shivam Dube towards the end helped India finish with a huge total of 255/5 in 20 overs, the highest score ever made in a men’s T20 World Cup final. India’s attacking batting kept New Zealand’s bowlers under constant pressure and put the team in a very strong position in the championship match, and the men in blue are in a strong contention to become the first team to defend the T20 World Cup title, with their 3rd T20 trophy almost certain.