‘No black jerseys’: Suryakumar Yadav bars New Zealand fans from entering Narendra Modi Stadium

India captain Suryakumar Yadav wants the Narendra Modi Stadium to be completely filled with Indian fans supporting the team. Ahead of the big T20 World Cup 2026 final, Suryakumar stated that he does not want to see any New Zealand fans or "black jerseys" in the stands in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8.

The Men in Blue were the favorites before the tournament commenced. They reached the final after defeating England in the semifinal in Mumbai. However, they have not been at their best so far, which should excite the Black Caps. An exciting encounter between two of the best sides is expected under lights.

I Have Been in This Situation Before - Suryakumar Yadav

In a video shared by the ICC on Instagram, Suryakumar Yadav said that he expects a lot of noise for the final match. The skipper wants a massive sea of blue jerseys cheering for the home side to create a wild and loud atmosphere.

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"Absolutely, I mean, more than 110,000 people here in the stadium; I don't know the right number. But then it is going to be loud. I have been in this situation before, the 2023 ODI World Cup. It was jam-packed, it was wild, and the vibe was amazing," Suryakumar Yadav said.

"Then again, when we played two league games here, it was again the same way. And hoping it will be very, very wild, full of blue, and have no black jerseys tomorrow. But yeah, I'm sure it will be a good game and a good vibe tomorrow at this lovely stadium," he added.

Pressure of a T20 World Cup Final for India at home

The T20 World Cup final is one of the most high-pressure matches a cricketer can experience in his career. The fickle nature and the sheer pace of the format are enough to overwhelm even the most experienced players.

Notably, the pressure of playing in front of a home crowd becomes a key factor as well. India have a chance to become the first-ever three-time winner of the competition. They could also become the first team to successfully defend the title and the first host nation to win the trophy.

The Indian team faced a similar situation ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup final at the same venue. However, the Men in Yellow were able to translate their saying onto the field, as the Narendra Modi Stadium was left in stunned silence after Rohit Sharma and co. suffered a six-wicket loss.

Suryakumar Yadav's Batting Stats in the T20 World Cup 2026

To win this big final, India need their captain to score heavily. Suryakumar Yadav is the team's second-leading run-getter in the T20 World Cup 2026 heading into the final against New Zealand. He has scored 242 runs in eight innings at an average of 34.57 and a strike rate of 137.50.

The right-handed batter began the tournament on a high note, with a stunning 84* off 49 balls against the USA in Mumbai. However, he has failed to replicate that performance in subsequent matches and has only managed a few scratchy 30s. He was stumped for 11 off six balls in the semifinal against England.

Also read: Yuvraj Singh to join LSG? India great spotted coaching Rishabh Pant ahead of IPL 2026