ICC T20 World Cup (2026): New Zealand squad announced

[Cricket Warrior]

BLACKCAPS pace-bowling spearhead Jacob Duffy is set for his first senior World Cup after being included in an experienced 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, starting next month.

The 31-year-old is the only first timer in a well-established BLACKCAPS squad boasting 1064 T20I caps and to be captained by Mitch Santner, who is set to attend his ninth senior ICC global event.

Duffy, the second ranked ICC T20I bowler in the world, has been in red-hot form for the BLACKCAPS across the formats, finishing 2025 with a total 81 international wickets at an average of 17 from 36 matches, breaking Sir Richard Hadlee’s 40-year record of 79.

The remainder of the squad has a familiar feel with Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry and Adam Milne the pace-bowlers, and Jimmy Neesham the pace-bowling all-rounder.

In addition to the captain, there are four other spin options with the BLACKCAPS second-highest T20I wicket-taker Ish Sodhi the sole specialist, alongside all-rounders Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra.

For Santner and Sodhi, a T20 World Cup in India will be somewhat of a full circle moment, with both players having made names for themselves in the 2016 version of the tournament also in India.

Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell and Tim Seifert are the specialist batters.

Seifert, who will take the gloves in India, will join the squad following a stint in Australia's Big Bash League, where he opened his campaign for the Melbourne Renegades with a fifth T20 hundred (102 off 56 balls).

Allen (finger/hamstring), Chapman (ankle), Ferguson (calf), Henry (calf), and Santner (adductor) are undergoing respective return-to-play plans and are currently on track to be fit for the tournament.

With Ferguson and Henry's partners due to give birth during the tournament period it is likely they will be granted short-term paternity leave.

Kyle Jamieson will travel with the squad as the pace-bowling reserve.

BLACKCAPS ICC Men's T20 World Cup squad:

Mitchell Santner (c) Northern Brave

Finn Allen Auckland Aces

Michael Bracewell Wellington Firebirds

Mark Chapman Auckland Aces

Devon Conway Wellington Firebirds

Jacob Duffy Volts

Lockie Ferguson Auckland Aces

Matt Henry Canterbury Kings

Daryl Mitchell Canterbury Kings

Adam Milne Wellington Firebirds

James Neesham Auckland Aces

Glenn Phillips Volts

Rachin Ravindra Wellington Firebirds

Tim Seifert Northern Brave

Ish Sodhi Canterbury Kings

*Kyle Jamieson Canterbury Kings - Pace-bowling reserve

Duffy set for maiden World Cup | Santner to lead experienced squad

BLACKCAPS pace-bowling spearhead Jacob Duffy is set for his first senior World Cup after being included in an experienced 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, starting next month.

www.nzc.nz

 

[Devadwal]

Very solid team. Surely semifinal is almost guarantee for them if they play with full potential.

Milne/ Henry ,furguson and duffy along with santner , bracewell is very good bowling attacks.

They have powerful hitter like of allen, Seifert, Ravindra, chapman and Philips.

Not sure why they selected Conway?

 

[Devadwal]

Just seen neesham name , what he is doing in 2026? Another useless selection along with Conway.

Bevon Jacobs should've been selected.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Predictable squad. Not sure about some of these players. They could cost NZ big at the World Cup.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Just seen neesham name , what he is doing in 2026? Another useless selection along with Conway.

Bevon Jacobs should've been selected.

Neesham, Conway and Bracewell - all questionable selections in 2026.

They dropped Tim Robinson for Conway. Their conservative selections will cost them

 

[Devadwal]

Neesham, Conway and Bracewell - all questionable selections in 2026.

They dropped Tim Robinson for Conway. Their conservative selections will cost them

What your starting playing eleven from selected player's?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Allen
Seifert
Rachin
Mitchell
Chapman
Philips
Santner
Bracewell
Duffy
Henry
Lockie/Sodhi(based on pitch)

Aur koi option nahi hai

 

[Devadwal]

Not a bad team. All are monster hitter in this batting line-up. Maybe they lack the lower order batting depth.

Allen
Seifert
Rachin
Mitchell
Chapman
Philips
Santner
Bracewell
Duffy
Henry
Lockie/Sodhi(based on pitch)

Aur koi option nahi hai

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Not a bad team. All are monster hitter in this batting line-up. Maybe they lack the lower order batting depth.

It's OK. It's not a complete squad. They don't have a reliable seam allrounder , wrist spinner or any left arm pacer.

But one dimensional bowling attack.

 

[Devadwal]

Adam Milne, who suffered a torn left hamstring while bowling in the SA20, will miss the upcoming T20 World Cup. Kyle Jamieson will replace him in New Zealand's squad.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Milne ruled out of T20 World Cup | Jamieson in

Adam Milne has been ruled out of the ICC T20 World Cup with a torn left hamstring and will be replaced in the BLACKCAPS squad by Kyle Jamieson.

Milne suffered the injury while bowling in the SA20 on Sunday with subsequent scans revealing the extent of the injury.

Jamieson, who is currently part of the BLACKCAPS white-ball tour of India, has been added to the T20 World Cup squad after originally being named as the traveling reserve for the February-March tournament in India and Sri Lanka.

BLACKCAPS coach Rob Walter was empathetic towards Milne.

“We’re all gutted for Adam,” he said.

“He’d worked so hard to get himself ready for the tournament and was looking back to his best in his eight games for the Eastern Cape Sunrisers.

“It's unfortunate timing for Adam and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

Walter said Jamieson was a worthy replacement.

“It’s great that Kyle is already with us here in India.

“He’s an integral member of our pace-bowling group and has hit the ground running on this tour.

“He’s a hard worker with a good set of skills and experiences that will hold him good stead for the tournament.”

Walter confirmed a replacement travelling reserve for the T20 World Cup would be confirmed in due course.

BLACKCAPS ICC T20 WC squad

Mitchell Santner (c) - Northern Brave

Finn Allen - Auckland Aces

Michael Bracewell - Wellington Firebirds

Mark Chapman - Auckland Aces

Devon Conway - Wellington Firebirds

Jacob Duffy - Volts

Lockie Ferguson - Auckland Aces

Matt Henry - Canterbury Kings

Kyle Jamieson - Canterbury Kings

Daryl Mitchell - Canterbury Kings

James Neesham - Auckland Aces

Glenn Phillips - Volts

Rachin Ravindra - Wellington Firebirds

Tim Seifert - Northern Brave

Ish Sodhi - Canterbury Kings

*16th travelling reserve to be confirmed in due course

BLACKCAPS ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Schedule

Warm-up - v USA - Friday 6 February, 2.30am NZT (Mumbai)

1st T20I - v Afghanistan - Sunday 8 February, 6.30pm NZT (Chennai)

2nd T20I - v UAE - Tuesday 10 February, 10.30pm NZT (Chennai)

3rd T20I - v South Africa - Sunday 15 February, 2.30am NZT (Ahmedabad)

4th T20I - v Canada - Tuesday 17 February, 6.30pm NZT (Chennai)

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Adam Milne, who suffered a torn left hamstring while bowling in the SA20, will miss the upcoming T20 World Cup. Kyle Jamieson will replace him in New Zealand's squad.

This was so predictable. When has he not got injured in a league just before an ICC tournament?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Batting records | Twenty20 Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Walter and Santner have to be brave and drop Conway and include Tim Robinson in the WT20 squad

This guy is a Rizwan level player and is a complete misfit in this NZ side.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

This was so predictable. When has he not got injured in a league just before an ICC tournament?

It's a shame he struggles with injuries so much because he is a good bowler. Was bowling really well in the SA20 for SEC

 

[sweep_shot]

NZ had a forgettable campaign in 2024 World T20. Can they do better this time?

The team looks good on paper. All the best to the Kiwis.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Seamer to join New Zealand T20 World Cup squad as back-up

New Zealand have boosted their fast bowling stocks at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup with the addition of in-form pacer Ben Sears as the travelling reserve.

Sears will join up with the Black Caps prior to the 20-over showcase in India and Sri Lanka that commences on February 7 following the injury to fellow quick Adam Milne last week.

Milne's withdrawal saw Kyle Jamieson join the main squad of 15, with Sears added to the playing group as a travelling reserve for the upcoming tournament.

Sears has been in good form for Wellington in New Zealand's domestic Super Smash competition and Black Caps coach Rob Walter said the right-armer was well deserving of a call-up.

“Ben’s worked hard to get himself back on the park and it’s been great to see him back playing and performing well,” Walter said.

“He’s had a full Super Smash campaign with the Firebirds where he was the competition’s joint second-top wicket-taker from the round-robin stage with 15 wickets from his nine games.

“It will be great to have Ben with us here in India and ready to make an impact at the World Cup should someone get injured.”

Glenn Phillips revives New Zealand after early wickets against Sri Lanka during their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 clash, lifting a big six against Chamika Karunaratne.

Sears will join the squad prior to New Zealand's warm-up fixture against the USA on February 5, with the Black Caps opening match at the T20 World Cup coming against Afghanistan on February 8.

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

ICC