New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said his team will not mind breaking a few hearts when they face India in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday. The match will take place at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, expected to host over 100,000 fans.
Santner admitted New Zealand are underdogs against the home side but remain determined. “It’s going to be obviously a challenge where everyone knows we’re probably not the favourites. But yeah, I wouldn’t mind breaking a few hearts to lift the trophy for once,” he said.
New Zealand have a mixed record in this tournament. They stunned South Africa in the semi-finals, defeating the previously unbeaten team by nine wickets. Finn Allen scored the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, powering his side to victory. However, New Zealand also suffered losses to South Africa and England during earlier stages, showing inconsistency.
Santner highlighted that T20 cricket can be unpredictable. “We’ve seen South Africa play very good cricket all the way through and then had a little hiccup against us,” he said. “If we go about our business the same way, we can upset another big team.”
India, ranked number one, are chasing history. They aim to win back-to-back T20 World Cups and lift the trophy on home soil for the first time. A packed stadium and millions watching on TV add extra pressure to the defending champions.
Santner believes this pressure could work in New Zealand’s favor. “That comes with a lot of added pressure as well. So if we can go out there and try and put, I guess, that added pressure on them, we’ll see what happens,” he said.
The New Zealand captain acknowledged the challenge of facing India in front of a massive home crowd but emphasized his team’s fighting spirit. “We wouldn’t mind breaking a few hearts and silencing the crowd,” he added, reflecting on the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad where Australia achieved a similar feat.
Fans worldwide will watch eagerly as New Zealand attempt to make history. A victory would mark their first white-ball World Cup title and prove their resilience against one of cricket’s toughest opponents. Santner’s team is ready to challenge India and, if successful, break a few hearts along the way.
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