Another final, and another disappointing moment for the New Zealand cricket team. Team India defeated them by 96 runs in the final match of T20 World Cup 2026. While the Suryakumar Yadav-led side scored 255 runs in the first innings, New Zealand could only manage 159 runs – a historic night for India and a night to forget for the Kiwis.
After the match, during the post-match presentation ceremony, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner came in for a routine chat. It is also a very difficult task for the captain of a losing team to express himself on behalf of the defeated team in the final match of the World Cup competition.
We lost to a very good team: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner
The New Zealand captain did not hold any of his team responsible for this result. He praised India for winning the title. Santner said that despite many challenges, he secured his place in the final, where India won the match by outclassing him in all departments.
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The New Zealand captain said, “Proud of the boys for getting here. Obviously, we had some challenges throughout the tournament, but you know, at each stage, we stepped up and performed well. Obviously, tonight, we lost to a very good team in front of a huge crowd. So, yeah, proud of the boys.”
New Zealand cricket team captain praised the atmosphere of Narendra Modi Stadium
Mitchell Santner praised the atmosphere at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where he played several matches in the T20 World Cup 2026. Therefore, this place was known to them. At the same ground, he also had some brilliant performances in the Super 8 and semi-finals. But tonight Team India overpowered the New Zealand cricket team.
“Yeah, I mean, whatever game we play, there’s always a big crowd, and to see a big sea of blue there, obviously, we’re not the home favourites, but yes, credit to India always goes to winning the title at home, it comes with a lot of pressure.”
“And I think Sky and the boys should be very proud of the work they’ve done. I think at every stage, different people stepped up at different times,” Michelle Santner said.
Mitchell Santner talks about his heroics in previous matches
Referring to the recent past, he might have been looking to repeat the same performance that he had maintained on the same ground in the competition. But the ground reality proved bitter for him.
“And I think we faced challenges at every stage. And, you know, it was obviously good to overcome. And obviously, in the Super 8 and then in the semi-finals, we performed very well. And I think tonight we were overmatched. But again, I think the boys should be very proud of the work they did”, Mitchell Santner concluded in his post-match speech.
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