The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final will be played on March 8 in Ahmedabad at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium. But with such a huge match ahead, there's one question many fans are asking. What happens if rain disrupts the final?

ICC has kept a reserve day

Thankfully, the International Cricket Council has already planned for that scenario. A Reserve Day has been scheduled for Monday, March 9, in case rain prevents the match from finishing on Sunday.

There's also a minimum requirement for the game to count as a proper contest. Both teams must bat at least 10 overs each for the match to be considered complete.

If rain stops play before that point, the match will continue the next day from the exact situation where it was halted. That means the final won't restart from scratch. Instead, it will resume with the same score, overs, and match situation on the Reserve Day.

Has an ICC final ever been abandoned?

Weather has rarely ruined an ICC tournament final, but it has happened once. The infamous example is the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy final between India national cricket team and Sri Lanka national cricket team.

Rain washed out the match on the scheduled day. The final was replayed the next day, but bad weather struck again. With no result possible, India and Sri Lanka were declared joint winners of the tournament. Indian fans will certainly hope history doesn't repeat itself this time.

Ahmedabad has seen a reserve-day final before

Interestingly, the venue for this year's final has already experienced a similar situation. The IPL 2023 final at Narendra Modi Stadium had to be shifted to the Reserve Day because of rain.

That match eventually saw Chennai Super Kings, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, defeat Gujarat Titans via the DLS method. So the stadium staff and organisers already know how to handle a rain-affected final.

India's unwanted record against New Zealand

While India enter the final as defending champions, there's another storyline hovering over the match. Historically, India have never beaten New Zealand in a T20 World Cup. The two sides have met three times in the tournament, and the Black Caps have won every encounter.

One of the most painful losses came during the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai, where New Zealand secured a comfortable eight-wicket victory.

Another defeat came in India itself, when New Zealand bowled out Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side for just 79 runs and won by 47 runs. That makes this final even more intriguing.

What if the final is completely washed out?

If rain ruins the final even after the Reserve Day, the ICC has a clear rule. Both teams will be declared joint winners of the tournament. It's not the ideal outcome, but it ensures the event still concludes with champions.

Interestingly, New Zealand have already experienced rain trouble earlier in the tournament. Their Super 8 clash against Pakistan in Colombo was abandoned, with both teams receiving one point each.

A historic title on the line

Despite the weather talk, the focus remains on cricket. Under captain Suryakumar Yadav, India are chasing history. They're trying to become the first team ever to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title.

It would also mark the first time a host nation wins the T20 World Cup at home. But New Zealand have often thrived in big tournaments and will arrive determined to extend their winning streak against India in this competition. All eyes now turn to Ahmedabad. Rain or shine, the world is waiting to see who lifts the trophy.