Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn has sparked debate ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, suggesting that New Zealand could inherit the “chokers” label if they fail to win the title.
Steyn shared his thoughts during a conversation with former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, where he discussed New Zealand’s history in ICC finals. He pointed out that while South Africa has often been criticized for falling short in major tournaments, New Zealand has also reached several finals without consistently winning them.
According to Steyn, if New Zealand once again fails to secure the trophy, the long-standing “chokers” tag commonly associated with South Africa could shift toward the Black Caps.
Despite the criticism, Steyn admitted he would actually like to see New Zealand win the tournament. However, he believes defeating India in the final will be extremely difficult, especially with the match being played in India.
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New Zealand secured their spot in the final after defeating South Africa in the semi-final, while India advanced after beating England. The two teams are set to face each other in the T20 World Cup 2026 final on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
While New Zealand has had success in ICC tournaments — including winning the ICC KnockOut Trophy in 2000 and the World Test Championship in 2021 — the team has also suffered several heartbreaks in major finals, which continues to fuel the debate around their record on the biggest stage.
