Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday extended his best wishes to Team India ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, where India will take on New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad later in the day.

In a message shared on X (formally Twitter), Shinde expressed confidence in the Indian side and said the team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will enter the summit clash with determination and the hopes of millions of fans across the country.

Wishing the Men in Blue success in the crucial match, Shinde said crores of supporters across India are eagerly awaiting the final and are ready to celebrate the team’s victory. He added that fans across the nation are hopeful that India will secure the title and create history in the tournament.

India secured their place in the final after defeating England in the semi-final on March 6 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The win helped the Suryakumar Yadav-led side advance to the title clash, setting up a highly anticipated contest against New Zealand.

The final is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 8, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which is expected to witness a massive turnout of cricket fans. The stadium, known as the largest cricket venue in the world, is likely to see strong support for the Indian team as they take the field in pursuit of the championship.

The match also presents India with an opportunity to script history in the T20 World Cup. If the team lifts the trophy on Sunday, it will achieve two rare milestones in the tournament’s history.

India are currently the defending champions of the T20 World Cup, and a victory in the final would make them the first team to successfully retain the title. At the same time, the win would also mark the first instance of a host nation winning the T20 World Cup.

With two historic records at stake, fans across the country will be hoping that the Men in Blue rise to the occasion and deliver a memorable performance in Ahmedabad, turning the night into a celebration for cricket lovers across the nation.

Ahmedabad: Hotel room prices in Ahmedabad have increased sharply ahead of the India–New Zealand T20 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium. According to hotel industry representatives, tariffs have risen by nearly 300 to 400 percent because of huge demand from cricket fans.

The high-profile final is scheduled to take place on Sunday, drawing visitors from across India and several international locations.

Narendra Somani, President of the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Gujarat, said that rooms which earlier cost Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 are now being offered between Rs 15,000 and Rs 50,000. The sharp increase is mainly due to the sudden surge in bookings for the match weekend.

Luxury Hotels See Huge Price Surge

Luxury hotels have witnessed an even bigger spike in prices.

At Taj Skyline Ahmedabad, a deluxe room for two people has been listed at around Rs 2.01 lakh for Sunday night, plus nearly Rs 36,000 GST on a travel portal. On regular days, the same room usually costs Rs 9,000 to Rs 15,000, showing an almost 20-times increase.

Similarly, rooms at Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels Ahmedabad are currently priced around Rs 20,950, compared to the usual Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000.

Another popular property, Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad, is charging around Rs 30,000 for the match night, which is about four times higher than its normal rates.

Occupancy Expected Around 80 Percent

Ahmedabad currently has around 10,000 hotel rooms across all categories. Despite the huge demand, Somani said that hotels may not be completely sold out.

“Hotels in and around the city are expected to see about 80 percent occupancy on Sunday because of the match,” he said.

Many Fans Avoid Overnight Stay

Because of the high hotel prices, many visitors are choosing other options instead of staying overnight.

Some travellers are booking accommodation in nearby Gandhinagar, located about 25 kilometres from Ahmedabad, where room rates are relatively lower.

Others are travelling to the city only for the match and returning home the same night. Many fans from Mumbai drive to Ahmedabad in the morning, reach by evening, attend the match, and then leave at night with their drivers.

Visitors from cities such as Rajkot and Porbandar are also following a similar plan.

Apart from domestic travellers, several international cricket fans are also expected to arrive in Ahmedabad to watch the final.

New Delhi, March 7: As Team India prepares for Sunday’s high-stakes summit clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against New Zealand, former India spinner Piyush Chawla believes managing emotions will be the defining factor for the hosts in a pressure-filled home final.

Chawla stressed that while the expectations surrounding India may add pressure, the key for players is to embrace the occasion and focus on expressing themselves on the field.

“You just have to go out there, control your emotions and express yourself. Because it’s very important when there are so many people around and so many think that you’re going to win the game. You are the favourites, and that tag also brings a little bit of pressure,” Chawla told JioStar.

Chawla noted that nerves are inevitable in a global final, but the home crowd’s support can transform that tension into motivation.

“And the butterflies, if someone says they’re not there, is totally wrong. Once you enter the field and the whole crowd is behind you, cheering for you, gives you motivation. It’s the same feeling that you have to do something special. And when every player thinks that way, that we have to do something special, the whole team comes together,” he explained.

He also emphasised that success in a final often results from a shared belief throughout the whole squad and support system. “It’s not only about the eleven who are playing, even the players who are outside and not part of the playing XI, even the support staff, when everyone comes together, it becomes like a brute force,” he said.

Reflecting on India’s road to the final, Chawla singled out wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson for his crucial contributions in recent matches.

“This is the moment you live for as a cricketer,” Chawla said while recalling India’s must-win clash against the West Indies cricket team.

“The game against the West Indies was a virtual quarter-final, and the way Sanju Samson played that innings while chasing 195 in a pressure situation, he made it look so easy. That’s the beauty of his batting.”

Samson carried that form into the semifinal against the England national cricket team as well, continuing his aggressive approach at the crease.

“And again, against England, he came in to bat and made sure he was hitting every ball. We all know Wankhede brings a lot to the table for the batters, so you have to try and convert even the balls that are not there to hit into boundary balls,” Chawla said.

Speaking about batting dynamics at the Wankhede Stadium, Chawla explained that totals often need to be adjusted upward because of the venue’s chasing-friendly conditions. He said, “Whatever you’re thinking of scoring, you have to add 20 runs to that because it’s a chasing ground, and we saw what happened there. India scored 250-plus and at one point we thought 250 was a good enough score in a high-pressure game, but England just fell seven runs short.”

Chawla also assessed the recent struggles of mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, suggesting that inconsistency in his lengths has reduced his effectiveness.

“I feel sometimes when you get desperate or when you try to do too many things, you end up bowling too full, and that’s exactly what’s happening with Varun,” Chawla said.

“His strength is to bowl that hard length, not the one that fast bowlers bowl, but for a spinner, the good length where the bounce is around knee-high. Because with his pace, if the batter is not picking him up from the hand, it becomes really difficult as he’s so quick off the surface.”

“But when you are a little off radar, then you go for plenty,” he added. “Either he’s too full or too short, and with this kind of pace, it becomes easier for the batter when the bounce is so true on the surface.”

As India head into the final with expectations running high, Chawla believes staying composed and embracing the occasion will be key if the hosts are to overcome New Zealand and lift the trophy.