T20 World Cup 2021: 'Underdog' Tag Does Not Have Anything To Do With Us, We Focus On Our Cricket - Kane Williamson Ahead Of Final vs Australia

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said that his side doesn’t think of the tags which are associated with his side – the prominent one being the “underdog” – ahead of any major game.

On Sunday, it is a major game for New Zealand as they eye their maiden T20 World Cup title. And so do Australia, who lost the 2010 final to England. Both the teams are coming off terrific successful run-chases in the semi-finals.

Considering their consistent success in the past few years, Kane Williamson’s side has almost brushed aside the “underdog” tag and have become a team to beat. The Kiwi skipper stressed that his team looks to improve all the time and focuses on their game.

“I mean look, it (underdog tag) sort of does not have anything to do with us, we focus on our cricket, try our best and we want to keep improving as a side. The different tags is not something we control,” Kane Williamson said in the pre-final press conference on Saturday.

There is definitely a bit of match-ups in this format: Kane Williamson

Left-arm off-spinner Mitchell Santner bowled just three overs in the last two matches combined against Afghanistan and England.

Kane Williamson highlighted that this was because of the presence of one or two left-handers at the crease, as he prevented bowling Santner to lefties, which would a match-up against the spinner. He asserted that match-ups play an important role tactically in the shortest format.

“Yeah, I mean there is definitely a bit of match-ups in this format where it is so condensed and the game is full of small margins. There is a little bit of that and a little bit of gut feeling in terms of often there have been venues where there have been shorter sides and sort of different power players coming in different positions so you are trying to make adjustments as you go. And it was just what happened in the last game with Mitchell Santner,” the 31-year-old explained.

Kane Williamson also confirmed that Tim Seifert will replace the injured Devon Conway in the playing eleven for the final. Conway has been ruled out of the final after a bizarre injury: he struck his own hand with his bat after getting dismissed in the semi-final against England.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Not Concerned One Bit About Steve Smith’s Form, He’s A World-class Player – Aaron Finch