New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner expressed pride in his team’s journey in the T20 World Cup 2026 despite their loss in the final against India. He acknowledged being outplayed by a strong Indian side in front of a passionate home crowd.
Reflecting on the campaign, Santner praised his players for overcoming challenges and fighting hard at every stage. He credited India for their performance and composure under the pressure of playing a home World Cup.
India, led by fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s 4-15, retained the Men’s T20 World Cup title by defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in front of 86,824 fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This victory marked India’s third T20 World Cup win, a record in the tournament’s history.
Mitchell Santner, after the match, commended his team for reaching this stage despite facing challenges throughout the tournament. He acknowledged India’s dominance in the final match and the pressure that comes with playing a home World Cup.
Sanju Samson’s explosive 89 off 46 balls, supported by Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel’s bowling brilliance, propelled India to a formidable total of 255/5. New Zealand’s resistance crumbled, with only Tim Seifert offering some fight with a score of 52 as they were bowled out for 159.
