At the T20 World Cup 2026 final in Ahmedabad, jay shah was among the VIPs in the stands with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and family on March 8, 2026 (ET). The gathering at the Narendra Modi Stadium brought together cricket figures and administrators for India vs New Zealand as ceremonial honours and a star-studded closing show preceded the match. Fans roared as former players and officials paraded the trophy and national anthems set the tone for the final.
Scene at Narendra Modi Stadium
Professional Golf Tour of India president Kapil Dev and PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl were present in the crowd as the stadium filled to capacity for the final. Legendary players MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma jointly brought the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy onto the field, joined on the stage by ICC chairman Jay Shah and JioStar vice-chairman Uday Shankar, before the national anthems were played.
Playback singer Kavitha Krishnamurthy delivered a soaring rendition of the Indian national anthem, and global pop star Ricky Martin headlined the pre-final closing ceremony with a set that opened and closed with his biggest hits. Indian artists Sukhbir Singh and Falguni Pathak also performed, mixing Punjabi and Gujarati folk-infused numbers for the capacity crowd.
Jay Shah and VIP sightlines
The Home Minister Amit Shah attended the match accompanied by his wife, son Jay Shah, daughter-in-law and grandson. The assembled VIPs watched as New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bowl, and as New Zealand made one change to their XI by bringing in pacer Jacob Duffy for Cole McConchie. India took the field with an unchanged side from their semi-final victory at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The final is the culmination of a 20-team tournament that saw India progress through the knockout rounds despite a prior 76-run loss to South Africa in Ahmedabad. New Zealand entered the match seeking their first Men’s T20 World Cup title in their second appearance in a final.
What comes next at the tournament
The on-field action and the closing ceremony combined to make the final a high-profile sporting moment in Ahmedabad, with administrators, former players and performers sharing the stage before play began. With the trophy displayed and national anthems complete, attention turned fully to the contest between India and New Zealand and to the historic stakes for the Blackcaps.
Expect continued scrutiny of team selections and official appearances in the hours after the match, and further statements from cricket administrators and team leadership as results and reactions unfold. Journalists and officials present in Ahmedabad will detail post-match presentations and any official commentary tied to the outcome, while jay shah’s role as ICC chairman and his visibility at the final will draw attention in the tournament’s immediate aftermath.
