New Zealand are set to lock horns with Afghanistan within the fourth match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with the high-voltage conflict scheduled to happen on the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday morning. With contrasting current journeys, either side can be keen to begin their World Cup marketing campaign on a constructive word in situations which are anticipated to check ability and temperament.
Afghanistan come into this encounter using a wave of confidence. The facet has seemed sharp within the lead-up to the event, registering back-to-back warm-up victories towards Scotland and the West Indies. Much more encouraging for them was their 2-1 T20I sequence win over the West Indies previous to the warm-ups, a outcome that underlined their rising energy and consistency within the shortest format. With a well-balanced squad and gamers snug in spin-friendly situations, Afghanistan will again themselves to make an influence on the Chennai floor.
New Zealand, then again, can be eager to search out early momentum of their opening recreation of the event. They warmed up for the World Cup with a convincing win over the USA, which might have helped settle nerves and construct rhythm inside the squad. Nevertheless, the Mitchell Santner-led facet can be keen to place behind them a troublesome current outing, having suffered a 4-1 defeat of their T20I sequence towards India. That outcome uncovered just a few areas they are going to be seeking to tighten up rapidly.
As the 2 groups meet in Chennai, the conflict guarantees an intriguing battle between Afghanistan’s confidence and New Zealand’s willpower to bounce again, making it a must-watch early contest within the T20 World Cup 2026.
NZ vs AFG, T20 World Cup 2026: Match particulars
- Date and Time: February 8; 11:00 am IST / 5:30 am GMT
- Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
NZ vs AFG, Head-to-Head Report in T20Is
Matches performed: 02 | New Zealand received: 01 | Afghanistan received received: 01 | No outcome: 0
MA Chidambaram Stadium Pitch Report
The floor on the MA Chidambaram Stadium is shaping as much as be a reasonably balanced one, providing one thing for each batters and bowlers. Historically recognized for its black soil, the pitch is anticipated to play higher for batting within the first innings, with the ball coming properly onto the bat and permitting stroke-makers to play their photographs with confidence. Groups batting first may make good use of the preliminary situations to publish a aggressive whole.
Nevertheless, because the match progresses, the pitch is prone to decelerate, bringing the bowlers – particularly spinners – into the sport. The floor might begin to grip, making run-scoring a bit tougher within the second innings. Bowlers who range their tempo and hit the best lengths may discover success as the sport wears on.
In these situations, a complete within the vary of 150 to 165 needs to be thought-about a par rating, establishing an evenly contested contest between bat and ball.
Squads
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Ishaq, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Abdullah Ahmadzai
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy, James Neesham, Matt Henry, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman
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NZ vs AFG, T20 World Cup 2026: Right now’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- New Zealand wins the toss and bats first
- New Zealand’s powerplay rating: 30-40 (6 overs)
- Netherlands’ whole rating: 130-140
Case 2:
- Afghanistan wins the toss and bats first
- Afghanistan’s powerplay rating: 40-50 (6 overs)
- Afghanistan’s whole rating: 140-150
Match outcome: Afghanistan to win the competition.
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