The NZ vs AFG match will be the first match of the most competitive group of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. New Zealand will take on the semi-finalists of the previous World Cup and will also be looking to take revenge in the group stages of the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.

The following article includes a detailed preview of the NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup match, including head-to-head results, their likely line-ups, pitch report and live details of the second match of the series.

NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup match preview:

Competition date: NZ’s match against AFG will be played on Sunday 8 February.

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Place: The match will be held at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

time: The match is expected to start at 11:00 am IST.

NZ vs AFG team

Team New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Locke Ferguson, Tim Seifert and Ish Sodhi.

Afghanistan team: Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gubaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq Rahimi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli and Ibrahim Zadran.

reserve: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi

NZ vs AFG possible lineups:

New Zealand starting lineup: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Jacob Duffy, Locke Ferguson and Matt Henry/Kyle Jamieson.

Afghanistan starting lineup: Rahmanullah Gubaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (c), Abdullah Ahmadzai/Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad and Naveen Ul Haq.

NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup key match

Ibrahim Zadran vs Rocky Ferguson

Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran has been one of Afghanistan’s most consistent options. Zadran has achieved a lot and is now a regular in the T20I team as well. Rocky Ferguson marked his return to the T20I squad in the final match of the series in India, a milestone for New Zealand in the new-ball powerplay.

Mohammad Nabi vs Mitchell Santner

Mohammad Nabi is an Afghan veteran and all-rounder who has played for Afghanistan for over 20 years, amassing some great results and the confidence of millions of true cricket fans. New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner will have to take the responsibility of dismissing Nabi considering his stellar form and his efficiency in the death overs. In this case, Santner is one of the smartest choices.

Finn Allen vs Rashid Khan

New Zealand opening batsman Finn Allen joined the New Zealand team and topped the list with a smooth score. Allen played a vital role in Perth Scorchers’ BBL victory, scoring at an encouraging strike rate. Leg-spinner Rashid Khan, one of the most effective spinners in world cricket, was the only one who could limit Allen’s attack at the start of the innings.

Glenn Phillips vs Noor Ahmed

New Zealand batsman Glenn Phillips is one of New Zealand’s most reliable middle-order batsmen. He has scored several runs and won a series of matches while spinner Noor Ahmed has also surfaced recently. Noor, a young spinner who played for the Chennai Super Kings last season, is supported by more experienced bowlers and is very familiar with the Chaidambaram Stadium.

NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup match main players:

New Zealand’s main players: Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Rocky Ferguson

Major players in Afghanistan: Rashid Khan, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi

NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup Match – Free Live Streaming and TV Broadcast Details

Indian TV broadcast: New Zealand’s Group D match against Afghanistan will be telecast live on Star Sports Network across India.

Live online streaming in India: Indian fans can watch the match live from anywhere in the world through the JioHotstar app. Active subscription required.

NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup Match Weather and Pitch Report – Chennai

NZ vs AFG: Chennai weather forecast

According to Accuweather , Chennai is known to have a hot and humid environment for the players due to its well-known reputation. Since the game is played during the day, the temperature will soar to about 32 degrees, and the humidity will make the players feel about 38 degrees.

The weather is expected to be sunny with gusty winds favoring the seamers when the ball is light. There is no chance of rain; hence, intense cricket action can be seen throughout the 40 overs.

NZ vs AFG: Pitch Report from MA Chidambaram Stadium

MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is one of the smallest stadiums in India, with both square and straight borders not exceeding 70m. The average ground score is low, and high scores above 170 are very rare.

In T20 internationals, a total of 9 matches were played in favor of the batsmen, while the remaining matches were in favor of the bowlers. This track is often called a paradise for spinners who can find grip, turns and sharp bounces on this track.

NZ vs AFG head to head records

New Zealand and Afghanistan have never met in a bilateral match outside the ICC T20 World Cup. They have met three times in the T20 World Cup and won one game each in the World Cup.

While New Zealand won their first encounter at the ICC 2021 T20 World Cup, the second encounter was interrupted by rain and the last match between the two marked a shock victory for Afghanistan as they defeated the Black Caps by just 75 runs.

NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup Match- Conclusion

The match between New Zealand and Afghanistan is not only the opening match of this World Cup between the two teams, but also a crucial match for both sides. The winner will continue the advantage to a large extent. With South Africa in the same group, any of the three teams could be left out in the cold before the next Super Eights phase.

Also read: Ishan Kishan takes aim at Rohit Sharma for removing him from team