NEW DELHI: India are set to take on New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup final at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium. Both teams have some outstanding players and look strong enough to lift the trophy. India will aim to defend their crown while New Zealand will chase their maiden T20 title. Even though India appear slightly ahead on paper, there are still a few threats the Black Caps can pose to challenge the strong Indian side. T20 World Cup Final: Here’s why India will hope to end the ‘Sunday Curse’ against New Zealand Here are 3 ‘Kiwi’ threats India need to take care of: 1. Deadly opening partnership The opening duo of Finn Allen and Tim Seifert has been one of the most destructive combinations of the tournament. A prime example came during the semifinal against South Africa when the pair completely turned the match on its head. They stitched together a stunning 117 run partnership in less than 10 overs which took the game away from the Proteas. Fin Allen led the carnage with a breathtaking century in just 33 balls, registering the fastest T20I hundred by a player from a full member nation. 2. The Santner factor Mitchell Santner has grown into one of the finest all-rounders in modern cricket and his vast T20 experience makes him a serious threat. Over the years he has often troubled India with both bat and ball. During New Zealand’s historic Test series whitewash of India in 2024, Santner played some valuable cameos with the bat. In this tournament as well, including the Super 8 clash against Sri Lanka, he has delivered crucial contributions while his clever variations with the ball continue to create problems for opposition batters. 3. Pace stalwart Matt Henry For Indian fans, Matt Henry still brings back memories of the iconic semifinal of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 where he dismantled India’s top order with a brilliant new ball spell. The right arm pacer is known for his accuracy, seam movement and subtle variations. Henry has already taken 9 wickets in this World Cup and if he finds rhythm with the new ball in the final, he could once again test the Indian batting lineup. His economy is also quite impressive with 7.59 runs per over.