The final stage has been set for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 with the India all set to take on the New Zealand in Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

 

As anticipation builds before the final, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner gave a fiery statement in his pre-match press conference, where he insisted that the entire squad wanted to silence the huge Indian crowd that would occupy the stadium.

 

Over one lakh fans are expected at the stadium, majority of whom will root for India.

 

Santner's Fierce Message Before the Final

 

During the press conference ahead of the Final, reporter asked Santner:

 

"This will be New Zealand's fifth final appearance at an ICC white ball event in the last 11 years. On one hand, that is a testament to how impeccably consistent the team has been over the last decade. But then none of those previous four appearances culminated in a silverware. Do you want to be, tomorrow, a bunch of bad guys who break a billion hearts, rather than win?”

 

Responding to it, Santner acknowledged the high-octane atmosphere that will grip Ahmedabad for the final. "That's the goal, to silence the crowd," he asserted.

 

Santner said:

 

“That’s the goal, to silence the crowd. There are a lot of variables in T20 cricket, and it can be fickle at times, as we’ve seen throughout the World Cup. A lot of teams are on the same page, and it comes down to a few little moments in every game that change the outcome. We can upset another big team, and I think there’s obviously a lot of pressure on India to win this World Cup at home."

 

Also Read | 4 Curses India Must Break to Beat New Zealand in T20 World Cup 2026 Final

 

Fans Remember Pat Cummins' Iconic Statement

 

The 32-year-old's remark brought back the memory of Pat Cummins' similarly bold comment made ahead of the 2023 Cricket World Cup final.

 

Cummins had then stated his desire to "silence the crowd" at the Narendra Modi Stadium against the Indians, and went on to do exactly that in the final, where Australia defeated the hosts, making his remark legendary among cricket fans.

 

And now, Santner's comment has reignited the same memory before the latest big final at the same venue.

 

New Zealand Embraces the Underdog Role

 

Santner also talked about the pressure his team would face going into the final, acknowledging that New Zealand were probably not the favorites.

 

However, he believed in sticking to small moments in the game, which could change the fate of a T20 encounter.

 

Santner said:

 

“I wouldn’t mind winning a trophy. You look at this group and the groups that have been in the past, we are pretty consistent on these because we try not to get overawed by the situation or opponents. We go out there and do our thing. And as a unit, it’s been no different this time. And again, it’s going to be obviously a challenge where everyone knows we’re probably not the favourites. But we don’t mind."

 

Watch the video here:

 

 

Also Read | Dale Steyn Passes ‘Chokers’ Tag to This Team Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 Final vs India

 

Road to the T20 World Cup 2026 Final

 

India secured their berth in the final after beating England in the high-scoring 2nd semi-final at Wankhede. New Zealand made their way in the final by demolishing the South Africa in the 1st semi-final which was played at Eden Gardens.

 

This is second final appearance for New Zealand across all ICC events in just over a year after they featured in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final.

 

With both teams set to lock horns on Sunday, the crowd at Ahmedabad is guaranteed to create a charged atmosphere. The only question is whether team India will create a history on their home soil by clinching their third T20 World Cup title or will the Kiwis manage to turn the tables to get their hands on the maiden World T20 title.