New Delhi: Speaking on the Sticking to Cricket podcast, former England captain Michael Vaughan recently said: “Equaliatively, they (New Zealand) are probably the best team.”
Vaughan is right.
Since hosting the ODI World Cup in 1975, New Zealand has reached the semi-finals nine times and finished second twice. In the T20 format, the BlackCaps have reached the semi-finals five times and will play their second final on Sunday.
However, despite such a solid record, they are still labeled as “dark horses”.
New Zealand are perhaps the most condescending team in world cricket. In nearly every game preview, they are described as a “dark horse” or “a team that punches above its weight.”
Perennial dark horse?
In 2000, New Zealand won the ICC Knockout Trophy, which was later renamed the Champions Trophy. 21 years later, they defeated India again, this time in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) in Southampton. They also reached consecutive ODI World Cup finals in 2015 and 2019, finishing runners-up despite not losing to England in both the regular season and the Super Over. They were also defeated twice by Australia in the 2009 Champions Trophy and 2021 T20 World Cup finals.
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Cricket is not the island nation’s number one sport. Not even the second most popular. They only have six first-class teams, but New Zealand has consistently produced competitive international teams.
“That’s the New Zealand way, I think. There’s an inherent confidence, even though it’s not always expressed out loud. But we’re confident in our abilities,” Lockie Ferguson told TimesofIndia.com during ILT20.
“We’re a very proud sporting nation. For a small country, we’re not just doing well in cricket. Whether it’s the Olympics, sailing, rugby or even football now, we’re doing well. We’re very proud of our sporting capabilities,” Ferguson added.
Punching above their weight?
For the first time in recent years, New Zealand has reached the knockout stages of a global championship. Standing between them and the trophy are hosts India.
When the 2026 T20 World Cup begins, New Zealand won’t even be in most people’s top four, let alone win the title. Now having beaten tournament favorites South Africa in the semi-finals, they will face defending champions India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
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Interestingly, India has never beaten New Zealand in a T20 World Cup. New Zealand leads the game 3-0.
India are well aware of the thorn in New Zealand’s tail, having lost to them in several major global events, including the two finals won by New Zealand and the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup in Manchester. Mitchell Santner made it clear in his pre-match press conference that they don’t mind breaking a billion hearts.
“Everybody knows we might not be favorites. But we don’t mind,” he said.
“I don’t mind breaking a few people’s hearts just to lift a trophy for once.”
New Zealand won’t waste time complaining about conditions or making excuses. They face every challenge head-on with quiet confidence and unwavering focus. They go about their business with little fuss. They don’t have much hustle and bustle. That’s the New Zealand way. Always.
“It’s easy to say it’s just another game, but everyone knows it probably isn’t,” Santner said.
“But your approach has to be the same. Whether it’s your preparation or the situation the day before a game. It always comes down to a few moments.
“Especially in T20 cricket, if you can overwhelm the opponent or dominate in those moments. I think we saw that the other night.
“It usually comes down to the defense at a certain stage. If you can be consistent in the way you approach the game but also recognize some of the moments where you might need to be more brutal, that’s important.
“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
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“You’re in a final and you’re facing another team that’s also playing good cricket. So it’s never easy.”
New Zealand did not perform above their weight. This is their weight. The time has passed for pundits and fans alike to admit this, but even if they lose it, their credibility will only get stronger in the future.
