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Chennai welcomes the World Cup - Group D of the 2026 T20 World Cup gets underway at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, as Afghanistan lock horns with New Zealand. With South Africa, Canada and the UAE also in the mix, this really does feel like the group of death. Afghanistan's rise - Rashid Khan and Co. come into this tournament carrying belief. Their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, where they qualified for the semis, underlined just how far they have come as a white-ball side. This is a team that genuinely believes it can beat anyone on its day. Playing all their group matches in India only adds to that confidence. Memories of the 2023 ODI World Cup will still be fresh, especially here in Chennai, where they registered that famous, convincing win over Pakistan. Their preparation has been solid too. They won both warm up games against Scotland and the West Indies, and the squad itself feels nicely balanced. There is experience at the top with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and vice-captain Ibrahim Zadran, while youngsters like Darwish Rasooli and Sediqullah Atal add freshness to the batting group. The all-round options are one of Afghanistan’s biggest strengths. Spin and pace are both well covered. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi provide quality spin, while Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai give them seam options, with Omarzai also expected to take the new ball. They will, however, miss Naveen-ul-Haq, who is sidelined with a stress fracture in his right shoulder. That absence leaves their pace attack a little short on experience. Fazalhaq Farooqi is the senior specialist quick, but he hasn’t quite been as effective as he once was. Abdullah Ahmadzai and Ziaur Rahman are the other seam options, while the spin department also includes Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad. New Zealand seeking redemption - The Kiwis are looking to turn the page after a disappointing 2024 T20 World Cup, where they crashed out in the group stage following defeats to Afghanistan and West Indies. Their only wins came against Uganda and Papua New Guinea. In terms of preparation, Mitchell Santner's side could hardly have asked for a more useful build-up than a five-match T20I series against India right before the World Cup. While the 4-1 scoreline does not make for great reading, there would have been plenty of learnings taken from that series. In their lone warm-up game, the USA pushed them hard, but a big total of 209 proved just enough in the end. There are a few concerns in the New Zealand camp. Michael Bracewell is nursing a calf injury, and his availability remains uncertain. On top of that, two key fast bowlers, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry, are expected to take paternity leave at some stage during the tournament.
That places extra responsibility on Jacob Duffy, who was the breakout star of 2025. Kyle Jamieson wasn’t initially named in the squad but was drafted in after Adam Milne picked up an injury. Spin duties will largely rest with Santner and Ish Sodhi, with Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra offering handy support. Ravindra, though, has struggled for form in this format of late, and whether he can rediscover his rhythm on the World Cup stage remains one of the big questions. At the top, the opening pair of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen promises plenty of fireworks, especially with Allen coming off a stellar BBL season. Devon Conway could be the one to miss out, depending on the combination they go with. In the middle order, Daryl Mitchell will be absolutely crucial. His ability to handle spin and the form he showed on the recent tour of India make him a key figure. New Zealand will also want contributions from Phillips, Mark Chapman and James Neesham to really stamp their authority. Team form (Last 5 T20Is, latest result first) - Afghanistan - LWWWW | New Zealand - LWLLL. Conditions in Chennai - An 11 am start rules out the possibility of any dew, which should keep things nice and even for both sides. It also brings the spinners from both sides right into the game. With the sun beating down, there is every chance the surface would slow down as the match goes on, and that extra layer of intrigue could play a big role in how this contest unfolds. You can’t help but feel that how New Zealand handle the Afghan spin attack will be decisive. Their last T20I meeting came in Guyana during the previous World Cup, where Afghanistan produced a stunning performance, bowling the Kiwis out for just 75 and sealing a comprehensive 84-run win. This affair in Chennai has all the ingredients for another fascinating chapter, and given the makeup of the group, an early win could prove absolutely crucial. Who are you rooting for?
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
Afghanistan Squad: Rashid Khan (C), Ibrahim Zadran (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Mohammad Ishaq (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Abdullah Ahmadzai
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That places extra responsibility on Jacob Duffy, who was the breakout star of 2025. Kyle Jamieson wasn’t initially named in the squad but was drafted in after Adam Milne picked up an injury. Spin duties will largely rest with Santner and Ish Sodhi, with Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra offering handy support. Ravindra, though, has struggled for form in this format of late, and whether he can rediscover his rhythm on the World Cup stage remains one of the big questions. At the top, the opening pair of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen promises plenty of fireworks, especially with Allen coming off a stellar BBL season. Devon Conway could be the one to miss out, depending on the combination they go with. In the middle order, Daryl Mitchell will be absolutely crucial. His ability to handle spin and the form he showed on the recent tour of India make him a key figure. New Zealand will also want contributions from Phillips, Mark Chapman and James Neesham to really stamp their authority. Team form (Last 5 T20Is, latest result first) - Afghanistan - LWWWW | New Zealand - LWLLL. Conditions in Chennai - An 11 am start rules out the possibility of any dew, which should keep things nice and even for both sides. It also brings the spinners from both sides right into the game. With the sun beating down, there is every chance the surface would slow down as the match goes on, and that extra layer of intrigue could play a big role in how this contest unfolds. You can’t help but feel that how New Zealand handle the Afghan spin attack will be decisive. Their last T20I meeting came in Guyana during the previous World Cup, where Afghanistan produced a stunning performance, bowling the Kiwis out for just 75 and sealing a comprehensive 84-run win. This affair in Chennai has all the ingredients for another fascinating chapter, and given the makeup of the group, an early win could prove absolutely crucial. Who are you rooting for?
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
Afghanistan Squad: Rashid Khan (C), Ibrahim Zadran (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Mohammad Ishaq (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Abdullah Ahmadzai
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All posters, please take note of the following guidelines for match threads on PakPassion:
1. No personal insults at other posters, players, officials, coaching staff, etc.
2. No making fun of players', officials', or coaching staff's names.
3. Do not add any references to media, their social media, or post any pictures or screenshots from other sports websites.
4. Stick to commenting on this match. There is no need to bring other countries into the match discussion, as there are plenty of other threads where those discussions can be added.
