Mitchell Santner calls New Zealand underdogs after losing T20 World Cup 2026
Captain Mitchell Santner readily confessed that New Zealand walked into their ultimate match against Suryakumar Yadav's squad fully aware they were underdogs. Sunday night at Narendra Modi Stadium saw the hosts hand down a devastating 96-run defeat to the Kiwis in the highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2026 final. According to the visiting skipper, the Indian players put on an absolute masterclass to prove exactly why they deserve the trophy.
Falling short in major tournaments has unfortunately become a familiar theme for New Zealand. Despite constantly reaching the deepest stages of global events like previous World Cups and Champions Trophies, they just cannot seem to clear that final hurdle. Santner shared his disappointment during the post-game press briefing. He pointed out that chasing down a target north of 250 runs requires a flawless start. Instead, their top order crumbled quickly during the powerplay, completely derailing any hopes of a comeback against a relentless Indian bowling attack.
Historic Milestone Achieved By India
Sunday's triumph established an incredible series of firsts for the host nation. Securing this championship means India is now the first country to win the tournament on home soil. Furthermore, they locked in back-to-back titles following their 2024 victory and stand alone as three-time champions of the format. Fans tracking India vs New Zealand cricket match updates witnessed pure dominance from the opening delivery.
New Zealand initially opted to field, a decision they quickly regretted. Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a lightning-fast half-century, smashing 52 runs off merely 21 deliveries. He built a commanding 98-run partnership alongside Sanju Samson. Later on, Ishan Kishan joined the party, blasting his own rapid 54 to push the scoreboard past 200 by the 16th over. Shivam Dube provided the finishing fireworks, helping his team reach a record-breaking 255 for 5.
Sensational Bowling Seals The Deal
Facing a mountain of runs, the visiting batters immediately struggled against Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel. Bumrah was practically unplayable, taking four wickets for just 15 runs, while Patel grabbed three crucial scalps. Tim Seifert fought hard with a brave 52, and Santner chipped in 43 late in the game, but the required run rate proved impossible. Ultimately, the entire batting lineup was dismissed for a mere 159 runs.
With Agency Inputs and Image Source: ESPN / ICC
