“Tough to beat India on their home turf” - Mitchell Santner after losing T20I series 1-4 to India

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner has lauded India’s exceptional performances in the just-concluded five-match T20I series as the hosts bagged a comfortable 4-1 series win ahead of the much-awaited ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.

Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Santner asserted that it’s quite tough to defeat India on their home surfaces, adding that it’s a great learning curve for their side ahead of the showpiece event.

"We learnt a lot of stuff. Tough to beat India on their home turf. When you're challenged a lot, it's a good thing. Results haven't gone our way, have learned. It's not easy to bowl against good batting units," Santner said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

On the other hand, Indian star pacer Arshdeep Singh, who grabbed his maiden five-wicket haul, has revealed the piece of advice he received from the coaching staff ahead of the game, hoping that the perfect team game comes in the mega event.

"Great learning for me to stay in the game. That was the message from the coaching staff. It's just for the camera, I look calm. Lately, I've been going for runs consistently. I'm trying to stay in the game with Morne Morkel's help. I enjoyed some of the shots Finn played, but I could've planned better. They were always going to come hard. (Huddle from SKY after the powerplay) The talk was about body language, giving it our all, and giving it our best shot to keep them under 180. Happy with individual performances, but the perfect team game hasn't come. Hope that comes in the World Cup," Arshdeep said after the match.

Delving into the details of the game, India batted first, posting an imposing total of 271/5 in 20 overs, courtesy of Ishan Kishan's 103-run knock off 43 balls with six fours and 10 sixes. In the chase, New Zealand could score 225 runs in 19.4 overs, losing the game by 46 runs.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at BetBarter and download the BetBarter app to start betting today!