Ex-KKR wicket-keeper believes Finn Allen will destroy India in T20WC final

Brad Haddin warns India against Finn Allen: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final is set to be played between India and New Zealand today, March 8, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM IST. Suryakumar Yadav’s side would want to create history on Sunday and become the first team to win three trophies and defend them as well.

Ahead of the final showpiece, former Australia wicket-keeper Brad Haddin has warned the Men in Blue side that they need to be very aware in the final. Haddin has backed New Zealand to win the final and believes that if Finn Allen gets going in the important match, it would ruin India’s hope yet again.

Finn Allen is the key for New Zealand

Finn Allen has been in excellent form in this T20 World Cup. The Kiwi opener might have played the most important knock at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, against South Africa in semi-final 1. He scored and broke many records last week, scoring the fastest hundred in a T20I and also the fastest in the T20 World Cup history.

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Allen played a knock of 100* off 33 balls, and finished the game for Black Caps, in just 12.5 overs while chasing a target of 170. He came in with brilliant form this season. He is the leading run scorer for the side in the tournament with 289 runs and is just five runs away from becoming the second-highest run scorer in the tournament.

If he (Finn Allen) gets going in the final- Brad Haddin

"If he (Finn Allen) gets going in the final, he is one player who can ruin India's party on their home soil. If I was India coming into the tournament, the one team I wouldn't have wanted to play in the final is New Zealand," Haddin said on Willow Talk Cricket Podcast.

Here's the video

🚨AUSTRALIA FORMER PLAYER BRAD HADDIN BACKS NEW ZEALAND.🚨

He says🎙️: Finn Allen could ruin India party if he fires in the final. He added NZ don’t fear India in home conditions they have beaten them in a Test series before & backed NZ to win the final🤯pic.twitter.com/QgfvIm3Z3u

— Sam (@Cricsam01) March 8, 2026

Brad Haddin also believes that New Zealand would not be intimidated by the conditions and pitch in India, as the Black Caps have shown in recent games that they can compete with the hosts on their own grounds.

"New Zealand don't fear India in home conditions. They've beaten them in a Test series here. So if they can go in with that mindset and Finn Allen can play with that freedom as he has, they can put some real pressure on India. I am going with New Zealand."

I am going to go with New Zealand- Nathan Lyon

In the podcast, Australia spinner Nathan Lyon also shared his views on the India vs New Zealand final. He also has the same prediction that the Kiwis will win the competition, and the impact that New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner can have on the pitches with bigger square boundaries.

Lyon said, "I am going to go with New Zealand in the final. The biggest key for India is the way they play Mitchell Santner. He is the captain on the side and has been very economical, especially on these pitches."

New Zealand have not won an ICC white-ball trophy since 2000. That was the last time they won the ICC Champions Trophy, beating India. The last time they won an ICC trophy was back in 2021, defeating the same opposition in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

They have not lost a single game against the Men in Blue in the T20 World Cup format and would like to continue their domination and win their maiden ICC T20 World Cup trophy in India.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma fires ‘Finn Allen’ warning to Jasprit Bumrah before T20 World Cup final