Chennai, India - In a highly anticipated Group D clash of the T20 World Cup 2026, New Zealand and Afghanistan are set to face off at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on February 8th. The match marks the fourth of the tournament and is particularly significant as both teams aim to start their campaigns on a winning note.
New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, enters the tournament seeking redemption after a disappointing 4-1 series defeat against India. However, the series did provide valuable experience on Indian pitches, which could prove crucial against Afghanistan's spin-heavy attack. The Kiwis will need to overcome some injury concerns, with Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway recovering from illness, and Finn Allen nursing a shoulder injury. All-rounder Michael Bracewell and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson have also been dealing with calf issues. The New Zealand squad includes Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert and Ish Sodhi. Ben Sears is a reserve player.
Afghanistan, captained by Rashid Khan, comes into the World Cup brimming with confidence, having secured a dominant series win against the West Indies. Their strength lies in a well-rounded team with match-winners throughout the lineup. The spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad will be key in the expected spin-friendly conditions of Chennai. Afghanistan's batting relies on Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, with Sediqullah Atal adding depth. The Afghanistan squad includes Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli and Ibrahim Zadran. AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi are the reserve players.
The head-to-head record between the two teams stands at 1-1 in T20Is. Their most recent encounter saw Afghanistan winning by 84 runs in Guyana on June 7, 2024, while New Zealand emerged victorious by 8 wickets in Abu Dhabi on November 7, 2021. In their previous T20 World Cup meeting in 2024, Afghanistan stunned New Zealand, dismissing them for a mere 75 runs, with Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi each taking four wickets. Rahmanulla Gurbaz's 80 off 56 balls propelled Afghanistan to a total of 159/6.
The pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium is known to assist spin, making batting tricky and rewarding disciplined bowlers. AI prediction models are split on the likely outcome of the match. New Zealand will aim to exploit their batting depth, while Afghanistan will rely on their strong bowling attack. A win for either side would provide an early advantage in Group D, especially considering the presence of South Africa in the same group.