NEW DELHI: In the Stick to Cricket podcast, former England captain Michael Vaughan recently said: “Pound for pound, they (New Zealand) might be the best team.”
Vaughan is right.
Since the inception of the ODI World Cup in 1975, New Zealand have reached the semi-finals nine times and finished runners-up twice. In the T20 format, the BlackCaps have made the semi-finals five times and will play their second final on Sunday.
Yet despite this consistent record, they continue to be labelled as 'dark horses'.
New Zealand are perhaps the most condescended-to team in world cricket. In almost every tournament preview, they are described as the “dark horses” or the side that “punches above its weight.”
Perennial dark horses?
New Zealand won the ICC Knockout Trophy, the tournament that was later renamed the Champions Trophy, in 2000. 21 years later, they defeated India again, this time in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) in Southampton. They also reached successive ODI World Cup finals in 2015 and 2019, finishing runners-up despite not losing to England in either regulation play or the Super Over. They were also beaten in the finals of the 2009 Champions Trophy and the 2021 T20 World Cup, both times by Australia.
We are a very proud sporting nation. It is not only in cricket that we do well for a small country. Whether it is the Olympics, sailing, rugby or even football now, we are doing quite well. And we are very proud of our sporting abilities
Lockie Ferguson | New Zealand fast bowler
Cricket is not the number one sport in the island nation. Not even the second most popular. They have only six first-class teams, yet New Zealand have consistently produced competitive international sides.
“It’s the New Zealand way, I think. There’s an in-built confidence, although it is not always loudly expressed. But we have confidence in our abilities,”
Lockie Ferguson had told TimesofIndia.com during the ILT20.
“We are a very proud sporting nation. It is not only in cricket that we do well for a small country. Whether it is the Olympics, sailing, rugby or even football now, we are doing quite well. And we are very proud of our sporting abilities,” Ferguson added.
Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner of New Zealand during an ICC Men's T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 of New Zealand net session at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 07, 2026 in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
Punching above their weight?
Not for the first time in recent years, New Zealand are in the knockout stages of a global tournament. Standing between them and the trophy are the hosts, India.
At the start of the 2026 T20 World Cup, New Zealand were not even most people's top-four picks, let alone ones for the title. Now they have defeated tournament favourites South Africa in the semi-final and on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad they will take on defending champions India.
I would not mind breaking a few hearts to lift the trophy for once
Mitchell Santner | New Zealand captain
Interestingly, India have never defeated New Zealand in T20 World Cups. New Zealand lead this head-to-head 3-0.
India know too well the sting in New Zealand’s tail, having suffered defeats against them in several major global tournaments, including the two finals New Zealand have won and the 2019 World Cup semi-final in Manchester. Mitchell Santner, in the pre-match press conference, made it clear that they would not mind breaking a billion hearts.
“Everyone knows we are probably not the favourites. But we do not mind,” he said.
“I would not mind breaking a few hearts to lift the trophy for once.”
New Zealand do not waste time complaining about conditions or searching for excuses. They confront every challenge head-on with quiet confidence and unwavering focus. They go about their business with little fuss. There is not much razzmatazz about them. That is the New Zealand way. It always has been.
New Zealand's captain Mitchell Santner during a training session ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)
“It’s easy to say it’s just another game, but everyone knows it’s probably not,” Santner said.
“But the way you go about it has to be the same. Whether it is your preparation or what it looks like on the day leading up to the game. It always comes down to a couple of moments.
“Especially in T20 cricket, where if you can squeeze the opposition or take advantage in those moments. I think we saw that the other night.
“It often comes down to fielding at some stage. If you can be consistent in the way you approach the game, while recognising a couple of moments where you might need to be a little more ruthless, that is important.
“You do not have to reinvent the wheel.
“You are making a final and coming up against another team that is also playing very good cricket. So it is never that easy.”
New Zealand's players during a training session ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)
New Zealand are not punching above their weight. This is their weight. The time for pundits and fans alike to acknowledge that has passed but even if they lose this, their credentials only get stronger for the future.
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