New Delhi: Explosive opener find alan New Zealand have credited their recent tour of India as a key factor in their clinical performance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after scoring a century-breaking century and taking them to the final.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Allen produced one of the most devastating strikes in World Cup history at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday, hitting an unbeaten 100 in just 33 balls as New Zealand chased down a tricky 170 in just 12.5 overs against South Africa. The nine-wicket win secured New Zealand’s place in the final in emphatic fashion.
After the match, Allen highlighted how the five-match series against India before the match had helped the visitors adapt to the harsh black soil surfaces used during the World Cup.“It just goes to show the importance of the India series that the boys played before the World Cup. Five games on black soil… you can’t replicate that preparation,” Allen said. “As a team, we learned a lot. As a team, we fought hard. In those big games, we were ready to give up and hang on until the end.”Allen also praised the New Zealand bowlers for the win after an early breakthrough sapped South Africa’s momentum. “Our bowlers got us off to a very impressive start – certainly, they set us up for the game. On a pitch like this, if you can get the wicket in front and put the pressure on, it makes life a lot easier for the batsmen.”The right-hander added that his recent experience of playing in India gave him a better understanding of the situation there. “The last game against India on black soil gave me a proper idea of what was to come. That’s really helpful in getting into this field,” he said.Allen also paid special tribute to his opening partner Tim Seiferthe scored a 33-ball 58 in a heated stand, effectively ending the innings in the powerplay.“He just keeps taking boundaries…he’s been doing that throughout the tournament. He’s in unbelievable form. It’s a lot of fun to bat with Timmy when he’s in that mood,” Allen said.Looking ahead to the final, Allen urged fans back home to rally behind the team. “The final is special… you don’t get many chances to play in finals. Hopefully everyone will support us on Sunday.”
