To say that I was surprised by this outcome would be an understatement. I was completely blindsided ….
understatement
/ˌən-dər-ˈstāt-mənt/
noun
a statement that represents something as smaller or less intense, or less important than it really is : a statement that understates something; also : the act of understating something or the practice of making such statements
the avoidance of obvious emphasis or embellishment : an understated condition, appearance, etc.
noun phrase
—used of a statement that makes something seem much smaller, much less important, etc., than it really is