On the eve of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, Suryakumar Yadav had a witty response to comments made by Mitchell Santner about “silencing the crowd” in Ahmedabad. The India national cricket team captain brushed aside the remark, saying such statements have become routine before major cricket matches. India will take on the New Zealand national cricket team in the final at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, with both teams aiming to lift the coveted T20 World Cup trophy.
Earlier in the day, Santner had stated that his side would look to quieten the passionate home crowd during the title clash. His comment echoed a similar statement made by Pat Cummins ahead of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Final at the same venue. On that occasion, Cummins’ Australia national cricket team went on to defeat India and claim the title. Speaking ahead of the final, Santner acknowledged the challenge of playing in front of a packed Indian crowd but said New Zealand would embrace the pressure.
“The goal is to silence the crowd. There are a lot of variables in T20 cricket, and it can be unpredictable. If we go about our business the right way, we can upset another big team,” Mitchell Santner said. He also noted that there would naturally be added pressure on India to win a World Cup on home soil.
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When asked about the comment during the pre-match press conference, Suryakumar responded with humour.
“Sab hi same line chipka rahe hai, kuch toh naya bolo,” he joked, suggesting that players often repeat similar lines before big matches. Despite the light-hearted remark, Suryakumar admitted that leading India in a World Cup final comes with immense responsibility. However, the 35-year-old said he is determined to enjoy the occasion and keep the atmosphere inside the dressing room relaxed and positive. “It’s a special feeling and everyone in the group is very excited. We have created a really good environment in the team, and we’re looking forward to the big final,” he said.
India have already achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first defending champions to reach the final of a T20 World Cup. Now they will aim to add another record by becoming the first host nation to win the tournament.
Meanwhile, there has been plenty of discussion about the pitch conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium, particularly whether the surface will be made from red or black soil. Suryakumar, however, downplayed those concerns, insisting that the team is comfortable playing on either type of surface.
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“We have played on both red soil and black soil pitches during this tournament and performed well on both. So honestly, any surface is fine for us,” he said. Interestingly, Suryakumar revealed that he had not yet taken a close look at the pitch before addressing the media. “I came straight to the press conference from the dressing room. Some of the players and staff were standing in the middle having a look, but we’ll see tomorrow what kind of wicket it is,” he added.
🚨 SURYAKUMAR YADAV STRONG REPLY TO MITHELL SANTNER 🚨
SuryaKumar yadav 🎙️ :-“ Everyone is sticking to the same line, say something different.” ( Mocked 🤣)
— Team atmosphere is normal and everyone is excited for the final and our preparation well !!
— Kiara (@crickiara) March 7, 2026
When asked whether India would prefer to chase or defend in the final, the captain made it clear that his side is prepared for either scenario.
“We are equipped to do both. We’ve chased targets successfully and we’ve defended totals as well,” he explained. Suryakumar also acknowledged New Zealand’s reputation as a tactically strong side, but stressed that India’s focus remains on executing their own plans. “New Zealand are a very tactical team and they come with clear strategies. But we are completely focused on what we want to do — just play good cricket,” he said.
As captain, Suryakumar now has a golden opportunity to lead India to back-to-back T20 World Cup titles and cement his legacy on one of the biggest stages in international cricket.
