In a crushing defeat, New Zealand fell short against India in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, losing by 96 runs. The final match took place on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where India set a challenging target of 256 runs. New Zealand's batting lineup collapsed, managing only 159 runs, leaving them disappointed for the second consecutive time in a T20 World Cup final, following their previous loss to Australia in 2021.

Despite the heavy defeat, New Zealand's captain Mitchell Santner maintained a positive outlook about his team's performance. He refrained from placing blame on any individual player for the loss and praised his team's resilience throughout the tournament. Santner acknowledged that although they faced numerous challenges, his players fought valiantly at every stage, and he recognized India's superiority in the final match, commending them for their excellent performance.

This loss not only means back-to-back finals without a title for New Zealand but also highlights India's dominance in the T20 format, as they secured their third consecutive World Cup title. Santner's remarks reflect a spirit of sportsmanship and a strong team ethic, emphasizing growth and learning from experiences rather than dwelling on defeat, which could serve as a motivational lesson for future tournaments.