Chokers tag is yours: Dale Steyn fires bold shot at New Zealand before final vs India

Ahmedabad, Saturday: South Africa’s all-time leading fast bowler Dale Steyn has served New Zealand a blunt ultimatum on the eve of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final: beat India on Sunday or accept the “chokers” label that has shadowed South African cricket for decades.

Speaking on AB de Villiers’ YouTube channel, Steyn pointed to New Zealand’s recent run of near-misses in global finals and said the Black Caps are overdue scrutiny.

“Let’s be honest here. Everyone likes to call South Africa chokers, but I am going to say it. New Zealand haven’t won many World Cups themselves, and they have been in more finals than we have,” Steyn told his former Proteas teammate. “No offence, New Zealand, but please go on to win this. Otherwise, I am formally handing over that card to you; it’s yours. I love New Zealand, but they won’t beat India.”

New Zealand booked their place in the final with a tense win over Steyn’s old side at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, reaching the T20 World Cup title match for only the second time in their history. India advanced by edging England by seven runs in a high-scoring thriller at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Steyn highlighted New Zealand’s recent record: runners-up in the 2019 ODI World Cup, 2021 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy, plus victory in the 2021 World Test Championship Final. Since the 2000 KnockOut Trophy triumph, the Black Caps have contested eight ICC finals but lifted just the one trophy.

“It would require a monumental choke from India,” Steyn said when asked what New Zealand needed to claim their first T20 World Cup crown. “I really want them to win, but do I think they’ll beat India? No.”

The final, set for the world’s largest cricket stadium here on Sunday, pits a buoyant home side against a New Zealand unit chasing redemption—and, if Steyn’s prediction holds, the unwanted tag South Africa has long tried to shed.

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