The MA Chidambaram Stadium will host the 31st match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, between New Zealand and Canada. Canada has lost both matches and currently occupies the bottom of Group D's points table. They lost their previous match by five wickets to the United Arab Emirates, failing to defend a target of 151 runs. 

On the other hand,  New Zealand suffered its first defeat in this tournament, losing by seven wickets to South Africa. New Zealand batted first and posted 175. Mark Chapman scored 48 off 26 balls. Their bowling unit failed to defend the target. 

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NZ vs CAN Match Details

• Match: New Zealand vs Canada, 31st Match

• Date: 17th February 2026

• Time: 11.00 AM IST

• Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai 

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

NZ vs CAN Weather Report

Pitch Report - MA Chidambaram Stadium 

The surface is expected to be balanced for batting once more, but it usually begins to grip as the game progresses into the middle overs, which is when spin bowling becomes the primary threat

• Batting-friendly surface 

• High-scoring ground 

• Spin-friendly 

NZ vs CAN Recent Form

NZ vs CAN Head-to-Head Record

• NZ Wins - 0

• CAN Wins - 0

Top Batters to Watch – NZ vs CAN

• Tim Seifert (NZ): 167 runs in this tournament 

• Finn Allen (NZ): 116 runs in this tournament 

• Navneet Dhaliwal (CAN): 98 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – NZ vs CAN

• Lockie Ferguson (NZ): 4 wickets in this tournament 

• Saad Bin Zafar (CAN): 3 wickets in this tournament 

• Ansh Patel (CAN): 3 wickets in this tournament 

NZ vs CAN Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If CAN bats first

• Powerplay Score: 40–45

• Predicted Total: 150–155

• Match Result: NZ to win

Scenario 2: If NZ bats first

• Powerplay Score: 55–70

• Predicted Total: 170–190

• Match Result: NZ to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

NZ vs CAN Predicted Playing XIs

New Zealand 

Finn Allen, Tim Seifert(w), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy.

Canada 

Dilpreet Bajwa(c), Yuvraj Samra, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva(w), Harsh Thaker, Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskaran Singh, Dilon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana, Ansh Patel.

Why New Zealand is the favourite today

• Excellent top-order

• Experience middle-order 

• Good pace bowling 

NZ vs CAN Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, New Zealand are the favourites to win this ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Mark Chapman are expected to be the key performers.

Winning chances

NZ: 95%

CAN: 5%

NZ vs CAN Match FAQs

New Zealand will face South Africa in the 24th match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat. Both teams have excelled in this World Cup, winning all their matches and taking the lead in the points table. In their previous match, South Africa came out on top against Afghanistan in a Super Over. Ryan Rocketon was the standout performer for South Africa, scoring 61 runs off just 28 balls.

New Zealand, on the other hand, has comfortably won both their matches. In the last match, they won by 10 wickets against the United Arab Emirates, successfully chasing down the target of 174 runs. Tim Seifert's 89 runs came off 42 balls, while opener Finn Allen's crucial 84 runs off 50 balls helped his team win. 

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T20 World Cup 2026: Match 24, NZ vs SA, Probable Playing 11, Where To Watch, Live Streaming Details

NZ vs SA Match Details

• Match: New Zealand vs South Africa, 24th Match

• Date: 14th February 2026

• Time: 7.00 PM IST

• Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat 

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

NZ vs SA Weather Report

Pitch Report - Narendra Modi Stadium

The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch is a batting paradise in T20 cricket; it is flat with true bounce, a fast outfield, and good carry that rewards stroke-makers. 

• Batting-friendly surface 

• Batting-first good option 

• Flat and good bounce

NZ vs SA Recent Form

NZ vs SA Head-to-Head Record

• NZ Wins - 7

• SA Wins - 11

Top Batters to Watch – NZ vs SA

• Tim Seifert (NZ): 154 runs in this tournament 

• Ryan Rickelton (SA): 94 runs in this tournament 

• Finn Allen (NZ): 85 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – NZ vs SA

• Lungi Ngidi (SA): 7 wickets in this tournament 

• Matt Henry (NZ): 3 wickets in this tournament 

• Marco Jensen (SA): 3 wickets in this tournament 

NZ vs SA Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If SA bats first

• Powerplay Score: 45–55

• Predicted Total: 175–180

• Match Result: NZ to win

Scenario 2: If NZ bats first

• Powerplay Score: 55–70

• Predicted Total: 185–200

• Match Result: NZ to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

NZ vs SA Predicted Playing XIs

New Zealand 

Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (WK), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.

South Africa 

Quinton de Kock (WK), Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (C), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj

Why New Zealand is the favourite today

• Strong top-order 

• Excellent pace attack 

• Experienced players

NZ vs SA Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, New Zealand are the favourites to win this ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Mitchell Santner are expected to be the key performers.

Winning chances 

NZ: 55%

SA: 45%

NZ vs SA Match FAQs

Pakistan produced a dominant all-round display to secure a 32-run win over the United States of America in Match 12 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo. Batting first, Pakistan compiled a challenging 190/9, showing resilience despite regular wickets. Their innings was marked by controlled aggression, smart rotation of strike, and impactful boundary-hitting at crucial stages. The consistent scoring rate ensured the USA bowlers were under pressure throughout, and the total proved well above par, setting up a demanding chase that required sustained excellence from the American batting unit.

Sahibzada Farhan was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s innings, playing a commanding knock of 73 from 41 balls, mixing timing with power to dominate the attack. Babar Azam added stability through a fluent 46, ensuring Pakistan did not lose direction during the middle overs. Shadab Khan’s late cameo of 30 off just 12 balls gave the innings a decisive flourish. For the USA, Shadley van Schalkwyk stood out with an impressive four-wicket haul, briefly pulling things back and preventing Pakistan from crossing the 200-run mark.

In reply, the USA showed early promise but failed to keep pace as wickets fell at regular intervals. Shayan Jahangir’s attacking 49 and Shubham Ranjane’s brisk 51 injected hope, especially during a productive middle phase. However, Pakistan’s bowlers maintained discipline, tightening the screws as the required rate climbed. Key breakthroughs halted momentum, and calm execution in the death overs ensured Pakistan stayed firmly in control, eventually restricting the USA to 158/8 and sealing a comprehensive victory.

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T20 World Cup 2026 Updated Points Table After PAK vs USA Match 12

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

T20 World Cup 2026: Top Performers

Most Runs

Most Wickets

New Zealand is set to play the United Arab Emirates at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai during the 11th match of the ICC T20 World Cup. The start of the tournament was excellent for New Zealand, as they defeated Afghanistan by five wickets in their first match. In 17.5 overs, they achieved their target of 183 runs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert's 65 runs and Glenn Phillips' 42 runs helped the team reach the target.

On the other hand, the United Arab Emirates will be playing its first match of the ICC T20 World Cup. They failed to perform well in their World Cup warm-up matches, losing both of them. In the T20 format, both teams have played three matches so far, with New Zealand taking two and the United Arab Emirates winning one.

Also Read: Watch: Legendary Indian skipper spotted enjoying helicopter ride ahead of IPL 2026

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: NED vs NAM Today Match Prediction – 10th Match, Who Will Win Today?

NZ vs UAE Match Details

• Match: New Zealand vs United Arab Emirates, 11th Match

• Date: 10th February 2026

• Time: 3.00 PM IST

• Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai 

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

NZ vs UAE Weather Report

Pitch Report - MA Chidambaram Stadium

Expect another true surface that will be good to bat on, but will become slower during the middle phase of the innings, with some balls gripping for the spinners.

Top Batters to Watch – NZ vs UAE

• Tim Seifert (NZ): 65 runs in this tournament 

• Glenn Phillips (NZ): 42 runs in this tournament 

• Mark Chapman (NZ): 28 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – NZ vs UAE

• Lockie Ferguson (NZ): 2 wickets in this tournament 

• Matt Henry (NZ): 1 wicket in this tournament 

• Jacob Duffy (NZ): 1 wicket in this tournament 

NZ vs UAE Recent Form

NZ vs UAE Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If UAE bat First

• Powerplay Score: 40–45

• Predicted Total: 145–150

• Match Result: NZ to win

Scenario 2: If NZ bats first

• Powerplay Score: 50–70

• Predicted Total: 175–190

• Match Result: NZ to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

NZ vs UAE Predicted Playing XIs

New Zealand 

Finn Allen, Tim Seifert(w), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy

United Arab Emirates 

Muhammad Waseem(c), Aryansh Sharma(w), Sohaib Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Dhruv Parashar, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah

Why New Zealand is the favourite today

• Explosive top-order 

• Experienced players 

• Spin-bowling

NZ vs UAE Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, New Zealand are the favourites to win this ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips are expected to be the key performers.

NZ vs UAE Match FAQs

In match number 4, New Zealand and Afghanistan locked horns in a fast-paced, high-scoring game of T20 World Cup 2026 where New Zealand defeated Afghanistan by a comfortable margin. Taking first strike, Afghanistan put up a total of 182 runs for 6 wicket outs with Gulabadien Naib scoring 63 runs from only 35 balls to key the attack. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohamad Nabi also scored alot of runs in the late innings as each wrapped up the Afghanistan innings not outs and their batting performance was stellar and strong. New Zealand's bowlers maintained the same discipline, but it was Mitchell Santner who was most impressive with the ball.

In reply, the Black Caps started aggressively, but Mujeeb Ur Rahman quickly dashed New Zealand's excitement by scalping two wickets within a short period of time; although, the two early wickets did not knock off the momentum of the innings. New Zealand's Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips executed a calm partnership that produced much needed batting performance without taking any undue chances. Both batsmen efficiently rotated strike and waited for their scoring opportunities. This methodical approach allowed them to continue along on pace to satisfy the required run rate and effectively kept Afghanistan's bowlers from executing their plans during the middle overs of the New Zealand innings.

Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner provided the finishing touches to seal the win via the chase, both contributing greatly to their team's desire for victory. Daryl Mitchell scored an impressive 25 in just 14 balls. Meanwhile, Santner’s contribution of 28 off 17 also went towards New Zealand’s impressive finish. A few of the ends of the innings revealed more than one way for Afghanistan to struggle against the fast bowler. Rashid Khan had a tough time in bowling and allowed an excessive amount of runs (36). Mujeeb was economical with his bowling and had little impact; it translated into New Zealand exceeding the target, with five wickets to spare and 13 balls remained.

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Top batting performance from NZ vs AFG, Match 4: Tim Seifert 

The major factor for New Zealand's success in chasing a target of 125 runs was Tim Seifert's brilliant batters performance of scoring 65 runs off 42 balls. His aggressive style scored 12 runs in the first over. As New Zealand started to lose wickets at an alarming rate he took it upon himself to carry the team forward and score runs whether it was with running between the wickets or hitting the ball wherever he wanted. He was in total command of his innings clearing the ropes on three distinct occasions and also finding the boundary on seven occasions. The New Zealand innings was now very well under control. Seifert would eventually be dismissed by Mohammad Nabi but by that point, the result of the match was already decided.

Top bowling performance from NZ vs AFG, Match 4: Lockie Ferguson

With timely breakthroughs with the ball, Lockie Ferguson spearheaded New Zealand's bowling attack from the very beginning, preventing Afghanistan from building their early momentum. Ferguson only collected 40 runs in his four overs, but provided the two most important wickets of the powerplay period by removing both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran during the same over. These wickets pushed Afghanistan on to the back foot and disrupted their early plans, until Gulbadin Naib's half-century helped stabilize the innings and rebuild the total.

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• New Zealand registered their highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history.
• Tim Seifert became the fifth-fastest player to reach 2,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced.
• Seifert also became the fifth New Zealand batter to cross 2,000 runs in T20 internationals.
• Afghanistan’s total of 182/6 stands as their fourth-highest team score in T20 World Cup history.
• Gulbadin Naib’s 63 runs is the second-highest individual score for Afghanistan in a T20 World Cup match while batting at No. 3 or lower.

Player of the Match: Tim Seifert

Tim Seifert's 65 runs made him a worthy recipient of the Player of the Match award. Tim's performance included three sixes and seven fours and came after the loss of several early wickets, he managed to maintain a positive attitude and didn't allow pressure to build on him as he played to his strengths and chased down New Zealand's target with careful planning and good shot selection. The New Zealand batter's calmness and good shot selection allowed the Kiwis to control the game from start to finish and this was a key factor in New Zealand's comprehensive win.

The Kiwis will be aiming for their third consecutive victory in Chennai against the United Arab Emirates on February 10th as part of the tournament. Afghanistan will test themselves against the number one ranked team South Africa on February 11th in Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. The game against South Africa is expected to be a high-profile match for Afghanistan.

New Zealand and Afghanistan are set to face off in the Group D clash of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. New Zealand lost the last series against India 4-1 and also struggled in the warm-up match against the USA where they won by just seven runs. They need to make a few adjustments to the lineup and they will be keen to start well. 

On the other hand, Afghanistan has been the giant killer. They reached the semis of the previous WT20 and have a very good squad once again. They beat the West Indies in the warm-up match so we can expect a competitive match. They are known for taking down big teams, and one such team they will be aiming to defeat is New Zealand. The last time these two sides met was in the 2024 T20 where Afghanistan won the match. Santner will lead the Kiwis while Rashid Khan is set to captain Afghanistan in this fixture. 

Also Read: Watch: Paul Van Meekeren bowls a double-wicket maiden over during PAK vs NED T20 World Cup 2026 clash

WI vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Today: Match 2, Pitch Report, Playing XI & Fantasy Tips

NZ vs AFG Match Details

• Match: New Zealand vs Afghanistan, 4th Match

• Date: 8th February 2026

• Time: 11.00 AM IST

• Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai 

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

NZ vs AFG Weather Report

Pitch Report - MA Chidambaram Stadium

The pitch at M.A Chidambaram Stadium offers a balanced track that favours both the batters and bowlers. The average 1st innings score in the three T20Is played here is 165 runs.

Top Batters to Watch – NZ vs AFG

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG): 2141 runs in T20I 

• Devon Conway (NZ): 1739 runs in T20I 

• Finn Allen (NZ): 1365 runs in T20I 

Top Bowlers to Watch – NZ vs AFG

• Rashid Khan (AFG): 187 wickets in T20I 

• Ish Sodhi (NZ): 162 wickets in T20I 

• Mitchell Santner (NZ): 135 wickets in T20I 

NZ vs AFG Recent Form

NZ vs AFG Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If AFG bat First

• Powerplay Score: 40–45

• Predicted Total: 150–165

• Match Result: NZ to win

Scenario 2: If NZ bats first

• Powerplay Score: 55–60

• Predicted Total: 170–175

• Match Result: NZ to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

NZ vs AFG Predicted Playing XIs

New Zealand 

Finn Allen, Tim Siefert (Wk), Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy

Afghanistan 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zaran, Sediullah Atal, Gulbadin Naib, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Why New Zealand is the favourite today

• Destructive top-order 

• Good middle-order 

• Excellent spin option 

NZ vs AFG Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, New Zealand are the favourites to win this ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Finn Allen, Tim Siefert and Mitchell Santner are expected to be the key performers.

NZ vs AFG Match FAQs

In this IND vs NZ today match prediction, the fifth T20I between India and New Zealand is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. New Zealand won the fourth T20I match by 50 runs. They posted an excellent total of 215 runs in 20 overs. Opening batsman Tim Seifert scored a quick-fire half-century and Daryl Mitchell smashed 39 runs off 18 balls. 

In response, the Indian team failed to chase down the target and were bowled out at 165 runs in 18.5 overs. All-rounder Shivam Dube scored 65 runs off 23 balls including 7 sixes but was not able to chase down the target. In the bowling department, captain Mitch Santner took three wickets.

Also Read: IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today: 5th T20I, New Zealand Tour of India, 2026 Fantasy Cricket Tips, Team, and Pitch Report

IND vs NZ Match Details

• Match: India vs New Zealand, 5th T20I

• Date: 31st January 2025

• Time: 7.00 PM IST

• Venue: Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

IND vs NZ Weather Report

Pitch Report - Greenfield International Stadium

The pitch report shows a balanced surface at first, but then slows down later. Batting first has been the most effective strategy at this venue in history. Teams posting 220-plus scores usually win games here comfortably. Tonight promises another mouthwatering contest between both teams. Clear weather and evening dew might help chasing teams slightly.

Top Batters to Watch – IND vs NZ

• Suryakumar Yadav (IND): 179 runs in this series 

• Glenn Phillips (NZ): 169 runs in this series 

• Abhishek Sharma (IND): 152 runs in this series 

Top Bowlers to Watch – IND vs NZ

• Hardik Pandya (IND): 4 wickets in this series 

• Jacob Duffy (NZ): 5 wickets in this series 

• Ish Sodhi (NZ): 5 wickets in this series 

IND vs NZ Recent Form

     Winning Probability

• India: 80%

• New Zealand: 20%

IND vs NZ Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If IND Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 55–70

• Predicted Total: 190–220

• Match Result: IND to win

Scenario 2: If NZ Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 45–55

• Predicted Total: 175–185

• Match Result: IND to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

IND vs NZ Predicted Playing XIs

India

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, and Arshdeep Singh.. 

New Zealand 

Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Nessham, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, and Ish Sodhi.

IND vs NZ Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

According to our IND vs NZ today match prediction, India are the favourites to win this 5th T20I  match. The likes of Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav will be key players to watch out for.

IND vs NZ Match FAQs

The pressure was on New Zealand’s batting line-up to post a strong total on the board against the clinical and aggressive Indian batting department during the fourth of the five-match T20I series at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Tim Seifert took the onus on himself and smashed three boundaries in the opening over of Arshdeep Singh.

The right-handed batter, Tim Seifert, cleared his front leg and launched Harshit Rana into the stand at the long-on region for another massive over-boundary before continuing the onslaught with another powerful six against the same pacer when he smashed another six in the same region.

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With a six against Jasprit Bumrah’s third ball of the opening over straight down the ground, he completed the half-century for the Kiwis in less than five overs as they went to achieve 71 runs for no loss in the powerplay, which was their highest score inside the first six overs of the innings in a T20I against India.

Tim Seifert cleebrates 25-ball half-century against India 

Seifert, with a single against Ravi Bishnoi, notched up his 13th half-century of the shortest format as he continued the same purple catch that he carried in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025/26 for the Melbourne Renegades. New Zealand's other opener, Devon Conway, from the other end, saw the back of Rachin Ravindra early in the latter’s innings.

Watch the video here: 

Tim Seifert #indiavsNZ pic.twitter.com/zMkCjE1OBm

— Cricket Everywhere✍🏻 (@Subhamk79241601) January 28, 2026

New Zealand made their way to 108/2 in the first half of the innings. They were put into bat first in the game after their captain, Mitchell Santner, lost the toss. The Blackcaps will have Finn Allen back in the side for the next clash, as their captain informed. But for this contest, they decided to bring back Zakary Foulkes in place of Kyle Jamieson.

Meanwhile, India won the toss and, despite winning the series with an unbeatable lead of 3-0, decided to bowl first, keeping the dew factor in mind. They made just one change by resting the injured Ishan Kishan to include Arshdeep Singh in the eleven, which lightened their batting department a little bit.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 126/3 (Tim Seifert 62, Jasprit Bumrah 1/15) vs India. 

New Zealand is looking to finish their tour of India with a stronger punch by injecting some big names back into their squad with the introduction of experienced players for the last two matches against India. Currently, New Zealand finds itself down 0-3 in the five-match T20I series, and now, more than ever, the team is looking to combine firepower and experience as they head into the T20 World Cup later this month. In an effort to help regain some of the lost momentum for New Zealand, all four of the senior members (Jimmy Neesham, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Seifert, and Finn Allen) have been added to the squad to help bring balance to the team and rebuild their confidence before the conclusion of the T20I series.

New Zealand had a very difficult time earlier in the series, with the Indian lineup showing strength with both bat and ball. New Zealand played without many of their higher-profile players in the first three games, which made it difficult for them to compete against the Indian team's depth and overall intensity of play. With the T20I series being decided already, now is the time to try and test different player combinations, get new players experience, and regain confidence before the World Cup. 

Returning players add a blend of experience and aggression. Neesham provides tactical insight with both bat and ball; Ferguson, returning from injury, brings speed back into the bowling attack; Seifert continues to provide consistency through the middle order. Finn Allen will join for the fifth T20I in Thiruvananthapuram, giving New Zealand explosive starts with the bat. Allen's excellent Big Bash League season resulted in him scoring 466 runs at a strike rate of 184.18.

See Also: "Final decision will be..."- Mohsin Naqvi breaks silence on Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 participation

Boosting Batting Power for the End of Series

With the final two games to be played in Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram, New Zealand now possesses an array of players who, if played together correctly, will be able to challenge the perceived dominance of India. This combination of players with experience and players in form gives New Zealand great flexibility to experiment with combinations and strategies as they prepare for the T20 World Cup.

New Zealand has a strong desire to play without fear and therefore has a strong desire to regain respect and consistency through their performance in these next two matches. If successful, this would serve to lift the team's morale but also aid the coaching staff in finalizing team strategies and team lineups leading up to what is expected to be a high-pressure tournament in late 2021.

New Zealand's updated squad for final 2 T20Is vs India

Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Zak Foulkes and Bevon Jacobs