New Zealand Captain Mitchell Santner offered an honest assessment after his team's defeat in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final, admitting that their opponents were simply on the better side of the day. Despite New Zealand's impressive journey to the final, the Black Caps fell short in the title clash against India.

Santner praises India's performance

Speaking at the post-match interview, Santner openly acknowledged India's performance and also claimed that the victory was well deserved for India. The Kiwi skipper credited India's aggressive batting for setting the tone early in the match and putting New Zealand under pressure. He noted that the bowlers tried their best, but the Indian batters capitalised on key moments, ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking at a rapid pace.

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According to Santner, the team knew chasing such a big target in a World Cup final would require something extraordinary, but early wickets during the chase dented their hopes. Santner’s exact statement - "Today we got outplayed by a great team in front of a great crowd."

'A sea of Blue': Santner acknowledged crowd support

Santner acknowledged the incredible atmosphere created by fans during the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, saying the massive support for the India national cricket team added to the occasion. Santner described the stadium as a “sea of blue,” highlighting how passionately the Indian supporters backed their team throughout the match. Despite the pressure of playing in front of such a huge crowd, Santner praised the fans for creating a memorable environment for the final.

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Pride in New Zealand's tournament run

Despite losing the champions' crown for the night, Santner took a moment to appreciate the team's overall performance in the entire tournament. He praised the squad for giving their hundred percent effort and appreciated the teamwork for reaching the finals.

The New Zealand captain also took a moment to thank the fans for their immense support and also the staffs coaches for their contributions.