The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced match officials for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Final between India and New Zealand, set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (March 8).
While the Kiwis have entered the final on the back of a crushing nine-wicket win over South Africa in the semifinal at the Eden Gardens, the defending champions defeated England by seven runs in their final-four clash at the Wankhede Stadium.
India may have dominated New Zealand in bilateral series over the past few years, but the Men in Blue still await a win against the Black Caps in the T20 World Cup.
For the all-important title clash, Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf will be assuming the role of on-field umpires. The former will officiate in his second consecutive ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final, having stood alongside Chris Gaffaney in the final of the 2024 edition.
The appointment continues Illingworth’s impressive run in major ICC tournaments. In recent years, he has also officiated in the finals of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
Wharf has previously officiated at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 before being named to the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires last year.
Illingworth and Wharf also stood together during New Zealand’s stunning semifinal encounter against South Africa in Kolkata earlier this week.
The pair will be joined in Ahmedabad by Allahuddien Paleker as third umpire, while Adrian Holdstock will take his place as the fourth umpire and Andy Pycroft as match referee.
