Kanpur, March 8: Kapil Dev Pandey, the coach of star cricketer Kuldeep Yadav, stated that India has the advantage against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026 final.
In an interview, Pandey remarked, “This is a historic opportunity for the Indian team. No host nation has ever won the T20 World Cup, and no team has won it consecutively.”
He emphasized that the pitch is familiar to them and their batsmen are in good form. “We aim to make history at the Narendra Modi Stadium,” he added.
Pandey acknowledged that their bowling is comparatively weaker than their batting. However, he noted that their bowling performed well in the death overs during the semifinals, leading to victory. “This match is crucial. Bowlers need to bowl strategically, especially to left-handed batsmen, and avoid short deliveries,” he advised.
He cautioned against underestimating New Zealand, stating that both their batting and bowling are strong. “We have the home advantage, and having recently defeated New Zealand in a bilateral series puts us in a strong position. Winning this match is essential for us,” he said.
Shivam Dube’s coach, Satish Samant, commented, “The final will be fiercely contested. Both teams have robust batting and bowling line-ups. I believe the match could go down to the last over, adding to the excitement. It’s likely to be a high-scoring game.”
Samant pointed out that New Zealand’s team is well-balanced, with strong batting from top to bottom. “We cannot consider a score of 200 as safe,” he warned.
He also mentioned that Abhishek Sharma has yet to deliver his best performance in this World Cup, and captain Suryakumar Yadav has not played as effectively as expected. “In crucial matches like the final, both need to step up. Additionally, Hardik, Shivam, Tilak, and Ishan are all in form,” he noted.
Samant identified issues in India’s spin bowling. “If Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy bowl well, it could resolve this issue and tilt the match in India’s favor,” he suggested.
Shivam Dube has performed well in the World Cup, capitalizing on every opportunity. His and Hardik’s roles will be vital in the final. “I don’t think changes in the batting order will make a significant difference, and there shouldn’t be too much tinkering,” he concluded.
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