New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner believes facing India on their home conditions is the best way to test themselves as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 to be held in India and Sri Lanka. After failing in the first three games, Santner’s side regained their momentum as they beat the world champions for the first time in the fourth T20I at Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, January 28.
IND vs NZ 4th T20I: Highlights | Scorecard
Speaking at the post-match press conference after New Zealand’s 50-run victory over India, Santner spoke of how they were tested in all aspects of the game throughout the series.
“I said at the beginning of the series that there is no better preparation for a world cup than playing India in Indiaregardless of the results. We were thoroughly tested – both earlier in the series and again tonight,” Santner said.
The skipper also suggested that experiences like this will be invaluable if they face India in the T20 World Cup and expects them to learn from all their experiences to come out on top when it matters most.
“It’s about learning, putting players in specific roles and how they react under pressure. If we face India again in the World Cup, which is very possible, those experiences are invaluable,” Santner said.
It was never easy for the Kiwis by any means. In the previous three games, it was an in-and-out put-in for the visitors at the hands of the world champion Indian side across all three aspects of the game. But Santner sees all the pressure they’ve been under as a place to learn from and remains confident the challenges ahead are nothing compared to what they face now.
“Pressure situations are tough, but they’re also where you grow. It doesn’t get much tougher than this,” Santner said.
With the win in the bank for New Zealand, the visitors will have more confidence going into the final game of the series and the tournament that follows, and Santner believes they are better equipped than ever for the challenges ahead.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
January 29, 2026
