New Zealand and Afghanistan arrive at this version of the Males’s T20 World Cup on the again of contrasting outcomes. Whereas the Kiwis suffered a bruising 1-4 hammering by the hands of defending champion India, Afghanistan enters with momentum after upending the West Indies in a three-match collection in January.
The edges meet on the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday to kick off the Group D fixtures. This conflict carries heavy baggage: it was Afghanistan which successfully knocked New Zealand out of the 2024 version, a ghost the Black Caps might be determined to exorcise in Chennai.
Whereas the Chepauk outfield was lately relaid with an improved drainage system, the wickets stay untouched. Although not as sluggish as in years previous, these strips stay gradual relative to different Indian venues. Primarily based on the latest IPL season, the typical first-innings rating right here hovers simply above 160 — a modest determine in an period of 200-plus totals.
Crucially, that is an 11:00 AM IST begin. The dearth of dew within the afternoon solar means the toss winner will doubtless decide to bat, placing a complete on the board earlier than the floor begins to grip and put on underneath the warmth.
Spinners to dictate phrases
The Kiwis might be notably cautious of Afghanistan’s world-class spin triumvirate: captain Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. On a floor that rewards grip, this trio is primed to inflict most injury.
To counter this, New Zealand will depend on the preliminary impetus from Finn Allen. The precise-hander was key in Perth Scorchers’ title run within the lately concluded Massive Bash League season. He scored 466 runs in 11 innings, averaging 42.36, with a strike price of over 184.
With Devon Conway, who is aware of this venue intimately from his time with Chennai Tremendous Kings, and Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell anchoring the center, Allen may have the license to go all weapons blazing within the first six overs.
On prime of the PowerPlay exploits, the NZ batters will look to disrupt the spinners’ lengths early and power Afghanistan to search for a Plan B in back-ups like pacer Gulbadin Naib.
Afghanistan’s middle-order bother
Whereas Afghanistan holds the ace within the bowling division, its batting unit stays a puzzle.
Opener Ibrahim Zadran has incessantly been compelled right into a defensive shell on account of a fragile middle-order. This over-reliance is starkly mirrored in its scoring price; because the final T20 World Cup, Afghanistan has scored at simply 6.74 runs per over through the PowerPlay—effectively beneath the usual required on the worldwide stage.
Jacob Duffy, who can transfer the ball each methods in beneficial situations, would turn out to be useful to negate the Zadran menace. The pacer was considered one of New Zealand’s vivid spots within the India collection, the place he managed to choose up six wickets in 5 video games.
Regardless of these scoring woes, the Afghan line-up isn’t with out its weapons. Rahmanullah Gurbaz supplies the required hearth on the prime, whereas the skilled core of Mohammad Nabi, Naib, and the rising Darwish Rasooli might be tasked with anchoring the center overs.
In Group D—rightly labelled the “Group of Loss of life” on account of South Africa’s presence—a shedding begin could possibly be terminal. Mastery of the center overs, with each bat and ball, would be the final differentiator. Whichever aspect efficiently dictates the tempo throughout these essential ten overs is more likely to take the cake.
SQUADS
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran. Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Ziaur Rahman Sharifi.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
Printed on Feb 07, 2026