AHMEDABAD: New Zealand would not mind being the underdogs and breaking hearts in Sunday’s Twenty20 World Cup final against hosts India, captain Mitchell Santner said ahead of the contest in front of a partisan Ahmedabad crowd.

New Zealand reached the final after sweeping past South Africa in a ruthless nine-wicket win in the semi-final and are chasing their first global T20 crown after falling short in previous campaigns.

“We are pretty consistent because we try not get overawed by the situation or opponents. We just go out there and do our thing,” Santner told reporters on Saturday.

“It’s going to be an opposite challenge where everyone knows we’re probably not the favourites. But we don’t mind. We know we can do little things well and put in a strong team performance.

Hosts eye record third global T20 title

“It would put us in a pretty good position to hopefully lift the trophy. I wouldn’t mind breaking a few hearts to lift the trophy.”

Santner said the pressure would lean heavily on the hosts, who are bidding to defend the title in front of more than 100,000 spectators expected at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

He did not shy away from the prospect of silencing a packed house, drawing an echo of Pat Cummins-led Australia’s win at the same venue in the 2023 World Cup final.

“The goal is to silence the crowd. There are a lot of variables in T20 cricket and it is fickle at times,” the 34-year-old said.

“If we go out about our business the same way we can upset another big team. There’s obviously a lot of pressure [on India] to win this World Cup at home.

“Momentum’s a massive part. We are taking a lot of confidence from the last game. India will do the same,” said Santner. “England were very close to chasing it down the other night, South Africa playing very good cricket throughout and had a little hiccup against us. For us, it’s taking confidence from that.”

For New Zealand, a huge challenge will be how to deal with fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s unerring line and length.

“He [Bumrah] should be in everyone’s conversation,” the Black Caps skipper said. “He was the game changer for India the other night. But not just him, the way everyone is going with bat and all, everyone has stepped up at some time.”

India are coming off the back of a stunning seven-run win over England in the semi-final and Santner emphasised the need for early breakthroughs.

“The only way to slow any team down is wickets at the top and then try to squeeze a few overs in the middle... if you’re not taking wickets, you have to find a way to stop boundaries,” he said.

He also praised the depth of New Zealand’s squad, highlighting Cole McConchie’s smooth transition after replacing the injured Michael Bracewell.

McConchie has scored 45 runs and taken two wickets in four matches.

“Cole coming straight in, was obviously a challenge. I think when you have the buy-in of the group, it’s not just the 11 out there, it’s the 15 in the squad... We’re all in this journey together,” Santner said.

Despite the size of the occasion, Santner urged his side to treat it like any other day at the office. “It’s easy to say it’s just another game everyone knows it’s probably not but the way you go about it has to be the same,” he underlined.

NO PRESSURE, NO FUN: SURYAKUMAR

Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav said on Saturday there would be “butterflies in the stomach” when he walks out for the T20 World Cup final, with expectations sky-high for the hosts.

India are targeting a record third title and looking to become the first team to win back-to-back trophies. No country has won the T20 World Cup on home soil.

Suryakumar played a key part when Rohit Sharma’s India lifted the 2024 World Cup in Barbados, taking over the captaincy later that year after Rohit retired.

“Leading such a wonderful side into a final that [is also on] home soil, it’s always a special feeling,” Suryakumar told reporters at a packed news conference.

“Of course there are nerves, there will be butterflies in the stomach but as I always say, ‘if there is no pressure, there is no fun’. All the boys and the support staff and I am sure the whole of India is excited for tomorrow.”

Top-ranked India have been the team to beat in the tournament and lost just one game en route to the final, when South Africa ended their 12-match unbeaten streak in the Super Eights stage.

India have since won three straight matches, holding off England in a tense semi-final as the bowlers, led by Bumrah, held their nerve to win the thriller.

Bumrah bowled a near-perfect 18th over at the Wankhede Stadium to deny England.

Suryakumar, 35, said having players with experience of major international tournaments adds to their armoury.

“There’s a lot of benefit because there are a lot of players in this team who have played a lot of ICC events right from our coach [two-time World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir],” said Suryakumar.

“So their experience is also important. And there are a lot of players, like Bumrah, Hardik [Pandya], Axar [Patel], there are a lot of players who have played in ICC events, in pressure situations.”

Suryakumar said he learned a lot from Rohit, who retired along with Virat Kohli after the 2024 T20 World Cup.

“The way, where he left, I got to learn a lot of things from him when I was playing under him,” said Suryakumar. “I tried to implement the same things with a few thoughts of mine as well. And it’s worked really well.”

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2026