New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner attributed the team's Twenty20 World Cup final loss to India to their struggles in both batting and bowling powerplays. India's explosive opening partnership of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma amassed 92 runs in their six powerplay overs, setting a formidable total.
In contrast, New Zealand's top order faltered, reaching 52-3 within the same period. Santner stated, "That was the tale of the day - the two powerplays. I think we were three for 40-odd and they were 90-odd for none."
Santner acknowledged that failing to perform at their peak against a strong opponent in a final inevitably leads to exposure. He also noted that while the chase wasn't lost in the powerplay, it was certainly jeopardized by the early wickets. India ultimately won by 96 runs, extending New Zealand's wait for a white-ball World Cup title.