Mitchell Santner shares honest reaction after heartbreaking T20 World Cup final loss

Another Final, and another disappointing moment for the New Zealand cricket team. Team India handed them a 96-run defeat in the summit clash of the T20 World Cup 2026. While the Suryakumar Yadav-led team secured 255 runs in the first innings, New Zealand managed to get only 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 for the routine chat. It is also a very tough job for the losing team skipper to express himself on behalf of the defeating team, a defeating team in a Final clash of a World Cup event.

We were outplayed by a very good team: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner

The New Zealand captain did not blame any of his team for the result. He praised India for winning the title. Santner said that despite multiple challenges they secured their spot in the final, where, in the final, India won the match by outclassing them in all departments.

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“Proud of the boys to make it this far. Obviously, we had some challenges throughout the tournament, but you know, at each stage, we kind of got through and put on a good show. Obviously, tonight, we were outplayed by a very good team in front of a great crowd. So, yeah, proud of the boys”, the New Zealand captain said.

The New Zealand cricket team skipper praised the atmosphere of the Narendra Modi Stadium

Mitchell Santner praised the atmosphere of the Narendra Modi Stadium, where they played multiple games in the T20 World Cup 2026. So, the venue was known to them. In the very ground, they had put on some great shows in the Super 8 and in the semifinals as well. But tonight, Team India was all over the New Zealand cricket team.

“Yeah, I mean, most games we play, it’s always a great crowd, and to see a big sea of blue out there was, obviously, we’re not the home favourites, but yeah, credit to India to win a title at home is always, it comes with a lot of pressure."

"And I think SKY and the boys should be pretty, very, very proud of their work. I think different guys stepped up at different times throughout every stage,” Mitchell Santner said.

Mitchell Santner talked about their heroics in the previous matches

Mentioning the recent past, they might have thought to repeat the same performance they upheld at the same ground they did before in the competition. But ground reality proved harsh for them.

“And I think we were confronted with challenges throughout every stage. And, you know, it was nice to obviously get through. And obviously, Super 8s and then the semi-final, we put on a pretty good show. And I guess tonight we were outplayed. But again, I think the boys should be very proud of their work”, Mitchell Santner concluded his post-match speech.

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