“We take immense pride in our unwavering determination, and we certainly exemplified that spirit,” remarked Santner in his post-match reflections on Cricbuzz.com.

**Champions Trophy 2025: Unyielding Spirits and Lessons Learned – Santner Reflects**

**By Cricbuzz Staff • Published**

“Remarkably proud of the team” © Getty

Reaching the semifinals or finals in ICC tournaments is a noteworthy achievement, but consistently stumbling at the last steps can evolve into a psychological barrier. This is a sentiment well understood by India, who endured a title drought across ICC competitions since 2013, a period that concluded with their T20 World Cup triumph in 2024. During this time, India frequently reached the semifinals and finals in various formats, only to be thwarted at the final hurdle. Ironically, New Zealand clinched their first major title since the 2000 Champions Trophy during their World Test Championship victory, yet their elusive chase for a white-ball trophy extends 25 years since that fateful victory in Nairobi. Despite five final appearances in white-ball ICC tournaments during this stretch, including their latest showing in Dubai, the elusive triumph continues to evade them. Captain Mitchell Santner faced these statistics head-on and candidly acknowledged that overcoming this jinx is paramount.

“I suppose they’re starting to accumulate,” Santner remarked during the post-match conference. “But making it to finals means competing against a formidable opponent playing excellent cricket. Tonight, our perseverance was commendable. We take immense pride, especially in the field, in never surrendering, and I believe we upheld that principle throughout the innings. It’s bittersweet; winning remains the ultimate goal, and the opportunities are finite. Nonetheless, this ranks high for us. We entered this match believing we had a significant chance, but ultimately, a superior team prevailed.”

Sunday’s setback marked New Zealand’s second consecutive defeat in ICC knockout matches against India, following their ouster in the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal in Mumbai. Historically, New Zealand had an upper hand in ICC knockout encounters against India. However, their inability to seize crucial victories in significant games has been a recurring theme. In the past, they were comprehensively defeated by Australia in the final of the 2009 Champions Trophy and the 2015 ODI World Cup, and came agonizingly close to clinching the 2019 ODI World Cup title, only to fall short in a Super Over against England. The 2021 T20 World Cup final was yet another missed opportunity as their Trans-Tasman rivals thwarted their hopes, capturing their first T20 world title in Dubai—a venue that proved costly for New Zealand again in the form of Sunday’s defeat to India. Santner, reflecting on the situation, found it challenging to pinpoint the missing element within his squad.

“We seem to frequently encounter India, which is a substantial challenge,” Santner acknowledged. “Understanding that it’s a significant game, we approached it as we have throughout the tournament. The conditions were anticipated to be different from the semifinals, and we were prepared for that. I believe we delivered a strong performance, pushing India to their limits. However, as in any game, especially finals, there are pivotal moments to reflect upon. Our resilience and fight throughout the contest makes me incredibly proud of the team.”

Unlike many prior tournaments in UAE, dew was not a factor in the Champions Trophy. This influenced Santner’s decision to bat first after winning the toss—contrary to the league stage strategy against India, where New Zealand fell short in a 240-plus run chase on a drier, spinning track. The wicket used for the final, however, was more conducive to batting, and Santner expressed no regret over the call.

“The pitch probably offered more turn in the second innings, remaining consistent overall. Post-semi-final, our strategy of setting a target to squeeze opponents seemed promising, which we applied for the most part. Yet, unforeseen quick setbacks amidst the powerplay complicated matters on a tricky batting surface. We might have left 25 runs uncapitalized, possibly altering the game’s complexion.”

Indeed, breaching the 275-run milestone might have reshaped the contest. New Zealand seemed poised to reach such a total following an explosive 69-run PowerPlay. However, India’s spinners showcased a middle-overs masterpiece that stifled the run flow, with New Zealand’s middle order faltering in their effort to maintain the pace. Ultimately, Michael Bracewell’s brisk moves helped temper the scoreboard just past 250. Santner recognized this middle phase failure as crucial in the match’s outcome.

“The batting intent, particularly at the outset, was excellent, capitalizing on ideal PowerPlay conditions. However, India’s spinners displayed brilliance, applying relentless pressure during the middle overs. We initially projected 280 or 275, but their ability to restrict and induce errors dictated terms, necessitating Michael’s late aggression to salvage some competitiveness.”

In the context of a slightly sub-par score, New Zealand’s confidence could have significantly increased had key bowler Matt Henry been available. Unfortunately, Henry was sidelined, unable to fully recover from a shoulder strain incurred during the semifinal. His prowess against India’s top order is well-documented, especially from the 2019 World Cup semifinal and the recent tournament. Santner lamented the substantial absence of their ace bowler.

“Matt’s outstanding skillset, nipping deliveries where conditions suggest otherwise, was missed today. His absence was palpable, particularly given our strategic advancements this far into the tournament. We aimed to dedicate our efforts to his indomitable spirit. Despite his efforts to regain fitness, it was undoubtedly tough for both Matt and the team.”

Conversely, Santner generously lauded Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, whose scintillating half-century at the top secured him the Player of the Match. Rohit, who had previously delivered sporadic cameos, chose the summit clash for his substantial contribution. Santner acknowledged Rohit’s impactful start as a decisive game-changer, notably with him batting deeper than usual.

“Should you query Rohit about his preferred match for peak performance, undoubtedly he’d say the final. His attacking approach imposes pressure on bowlers, aggressively dismantling their rhythm. Shubman Gill’s patience complements this strategy, but Rohit’s assertiveness, defying length, positions India advantageously. Their opening was dominant, placing us on a strategic defensive footing due to the exceptional foundation they built.”

Despite Rohit’s initial flourish and a century stand, there was a fleeting juncture where New Zealand appeared poised for an upset. Following the initial drinks break, India stumbled from 105-0 to 122/3 within 46 deliveries—a testament to the Kiwi spinners’ pinpoint precision, spearheaded by Santner and Bracewell. Santner’s animated briefing during the drinks interlude seemed to catalyze this assault.

“Neutralizing Rohit Sharma appeared vital. They began robustly with an adept partnership, yet we perceived exploitable opportunities during the middle phases. Starting, for new batters, appeared daunting, maintaining our aggressive bowling intent. I urged the team to seek game-changing moments through exceptional catches or run-outs. Despite our need to continually extract wickets, a perceptible shift occurred pre-Rohit’s dismissal, signaling potential momentum with his heavyweight contribution posing a formidable challenge.”

© Cricbuzz

**Tags:**
**New Zealand, Mitchell Santner, ICC Champions Trophy, 2025, ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 Final**

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