Ashhar Alam / New Delhi

Google marked the grand finale of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a vibrant new doodle, celebrating one of cricket’s most-watched events as the tournament culminates in India. The final is being hosted at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, bringing a thrilling month-long cricket festival to a close.

Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the 2026 edition has drawn fans from across the globe. Google’s creative tribute integrates cricket seamlessly into its logo: the first “o” is replaced with a cricket ball, the “l” transformed into a bat leaning on the final “e”, and a set of stumps completes the sporty motif. The pink and purple palette adds a lively, celebratory touch to the design, reflecting cricket’s global appeal.

The championship clash sees hosts India taking on New Zealand, with both teams reaching the final through contrasting journeys. New Zealand, after a rocky group stage with losses to South Africa and England, staged a remarkable turnaround in the knockouts. Their semifinal win against South Africa, chasing 170 in just 12.5 overs, was highlighted by Finn Allen’s record-breaking 33-ball century, the fastest in T20 World Cup history.

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India, meanwhile, maintained dominant form throughout the tournament. After an unbeaten run in the group stage and a narrow semifinal win over England, the hosts are riding high on momentum. Historically, New Zealand has held an unbeaten T20 World Cup record against India, but India enters the final with confidence, having defeated the Kiwis 4-1 in a bilateral T20I series earlier this year.

The Google Doodle, a playful nod to cricket’s global popularity, perfectly captures the excitement of a final that promises to be a memorable showdown between two of the sport’s most competitive sides.