Built through setbacks, backed by belief: Finn Allen's quiet rise

Five years into his international career, Finn Allen sounds like a player who finally feels settled in his own game. The last few months have been particularly productive. His career appeared at a crossroads in 2024 when he opted out of a national contract. By 2026, Allen is a key member of a New Zealand outfit looking to win its first World Cup.

"There's been a lot of work put in over the last couple of years around that consistency piece," Allen said. "I guess it's all starting to come to fruition now."

Allen debuted for New Zealand in 2021 at home against Bangladesh with a reputation as a swashbuckling opener. A duck followed by 17 cast doubts. "My first series against Bangladesh, I probably felt like I didn't (belong) until that last game," he recalls. In that final match, he smashed 71 off just 29 balls.

A maiden international century came the next year. His maiden World Cup outing against Australia in late 2022 instilled real confidence, setting up a New Zealand win in Sydney with a 16-ball 42. "When you do have a decent innings against one of the top sides in the world, then you feel like you can maybe do it against anyone," he said.

However, consistency wasn't his forte initially. His T20I averages in his first three years were 26, 21.63, and 21.3. "Cricket humbles you pretty quickly," Allen noted.

Key learnings came during his formative years in the Indian Premier League. Allen was picked by RCB as a replacement ahead of the 2021 season. "I was only 21 when I got over there but luckily, I had a good mate Kyle Jamieson with me," Allen recalls.

"My first time walking out of the bubble up to the team room, I heard this Kiwi-style accent saying, 'G'day mate,' and it was Virat Kohli. That took away the intimidation factor. Those guys were so good to me… They're all very humble in their own right."

Although he didn't get a game with RCB, Allen absorbed the experience. He remembers listening to conversations between AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell on playing spin. One memory stands out.

"I remember an innings that AB played against Kolkata in Chennai. He got 60 or 70 off 30 odd balls and played unbelievably. He came into the changing room and he was angry with himself, didn't feel like he batted his best. I couldn't believe someone could play as well as he did and not be happy. That sort of helped shift my mindset."

Further IPL opportunities didn't come immediately, and his ODI career stalled, missing the 2023 World Cup. In 2024, he opted out of a central contract to play more leagues worldwide—a decision that paid dividends. His T20 averages, stuck in the 20s through 2022-23, climbed into the 30s from 2024.

The turning point came during last year's MLC, where Allen hit a breathtaking 151 including a world-record 19 sixes. "I think it's one of those innings that I kind of blinked and it was finished," he said.

A foot injury briefly stalled momentum, but he returned strongly in the Big Bash League for champions Perth Scorchers, finishing as the tournament's highest run-scorer with a record for most sixes in a season. He attributes this to technical and mental tweaks.

"One was just my position of my hands. I have just slightly taken them away from my body and picked my hands up a little bit higher so I feel like I've got more room for my swing. The only other thing I've changed is my mentality—allowing myself time to get set early. If I take 5 balls or 10 balls, knowing I can catch up at the back end."

The transition from Perth to the subcontinent was important given New Zealand's schedule. Allen worked on his 'launch swing' and gathered intel on Chennai conditions, where New Zealand plays three games.

"Dev (Devon Conway) obviously got a lot of experience in the subcontinent, especially in Chennai. We talked about the conditions. We had Sriram, from the Chennai Academy, come to one of our trainings to discuss conditions, which was really helpful."

This knowledge comes as Allen eyes success with New Zealand and finally gets a proper IPL run. He was bought by KKR for his base price of INR 2 Cr.

"As always, you just don't know. I watched the start of the auction and seen most other batters and wicketkeepers go before me. Didn't think there was a chance. But obviously very grateful to be picked up by Kolkata."

Allen hasn't discussed his potential role yet but has been welcomed by CEO Venky Mysore. He may compete with teammate Tim Seifert for an opening spot and wicketkeeping role.

"You know a great thing about us is that we're each other's biggest fans," Allen says of Seifert. "Whichever one of us they pick, we'll be the first one cheering the other on."

At the intersection of a World Cup campaign and a defining IPL season, Allen is resisting looking too far ahead.

"For me, every game of cricket I play at the moment is the most important. It's very easy to get caught up in all the exciting things to come, especially with something like the IPL. You do well there and it can set you up for life cricket-wise. You can lose track of where your feet are now."

If recent consistency continues, that grounded approach could prove just as important as his power-hitting in shaping Finn Allen's career.