Political leaders across India congratulated Team India after their historic victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, where the Men in Blue defeated New Zealand by 96 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium to successfully defend the title.

Leading the chorus of praise were Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who applauded the team’s outstanding performance and the contributions of key players.

Rahul Gandhi praises team’s performance

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rahul Gandhi congratulated the team and highlighted the efforts of standout performers Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah.

“Champions once again! A magnificent victory for our Men in Blue, with a special mention to Sanju Samson and Jaspreet Bumrah for their remarkable performance throughout the tournament,” Gandhi wrote.

He added that retaining the trophy on home soil had given the nation a moment of immense pride.

“Congratulations to Team India on retaining the trophy at home and giving the nation yet another unforgettable moment to celebrate,” he said.

Kharge says nation is proud of the team

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also congratulated the players, stating that the victory had made the entire nation proud.

“Many congratulations to Team India on a magnificent victory over New Zealand in the #T20WorldCup Final. 140 crore Indians are immensely proud tonight,” Kharge wrote.

He praised captain Suryakumar Yadav for his leadership and acknowledged the contributions of several players, including Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Abhishek Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah.

Leaders hail spirited performance

Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also congratulated the team, calling their performance inspiring and applauding their fighting spirit.

“Congratulations to all our cricketers! They kept the excitement alive throughout the match and brought joy to 140 crore Indians across the world,” she said.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described the victory as a special moment for him personally.

“I am absolutely thrilled beyond belief. We won the World Cup at home, in Ahmedabad, where we lost the last time. And my Thiruvananthapuram boy, Sanju Samson, is again the hero,” Tharoor said, adding that the win felt like a birthday gift for him.

India scripts historic win

India secured the title after posting a massive 255/5, powered by Sanju Samson (89), Abhishek Sharma (53) and Ishan Kishan (54).

New Zealand struggled during the chase and were eventually bowled out for 159, with Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel leading India’s bowling attack.

The emphatic victory sealed India’s third T20 World Cup title and marked the first time a team has successfully defended the championship.