India’s commanding victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup final has stirred reactions across the cricketing world, with Pakistan’s former pacer Shoaib Akhtar claiming that India’s supremacy has “spoiled the game.”
India clinched their third T20 World Cup with a 96-run victory over New Zealand at Narendra Modi Stadium. While cricket experts celebrated the flawless display, Shoaib Akhtar voiced his critique on Game On Hai, calling India a “rich kid” dominating a casual match.
“It’s like there’s one rich kid in a neighbourhood who invites all the other kids to play cricket. That’s exactly what India is doing. Out of eight teams, they pick four, then from those four they choose three again, and keep moving forward. Then they say, ‘See, I’ve won.’ In my view, they’ve completely ruined the spirit of cricket,” Akhtar said.
Before the final, Akhtar had a different take. He acknowledged India as favourites but said he wanted New Zealand to win “to keep cricket exciting.”
“I think New Zealand could struggle against India, but India also carries the weight of 1.5 billion fans. They’ve already lost a World Cup final to Australia in Ahmedabad. I still see India as the favourite, but for the sake of cricket, it’s about time New Zealand lifted this World Cup,” he said earlier.
Despite his earlier critique, Akhtar acknowledged a key factor behind India’s triumph. He lauded coach Gautam Gambhir for backing players in challenging moments, noting that such trust often proves decisive in big tournaments.
India scripted history on Sunday, crushing New Zealand by 96 runs at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
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