Overview:
New Zealand start as slight favourites due to their experience and batting depth, but Afghanistan’s spin attack keeps the contest finely balanced.
Afghanistan and New Zealand will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns with a match against each other, aiming to secure a strong opening result.
The previous T20 World Cup marked a high point for Afghanistan, as they made history by reaching the semi-finals before bowing out against South Africa.
New Zealand, on the other hand, will be looking to reset after an early group-stage exit in the previous edition, a setback that came after a period marked by consistent performances in major tournaments, including a runner-up finish at the 2021 T20 World Cup.
NZ vs AFG Match details
| Fixture | NZ vs AFG: 4th Match,T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | February 8th, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Time | 11:00 AM IST |
| Toss time | 10:30 AM IST |
| Ground | MA Chidambaram, Chennai |
NZ vs AFG head-to-head records in T20I
The head-to-head between New Zealand and Afghanistan stands level, with one win apiece from their two meetings.
| Matches Played | NZ | AFG |
| 2 | 1 | 1 |
Pitch Report
The MA Chidambaram Stadium is widely recognised as one of India’s most spin-assisting grounds, where spinners plays a decisive role. Despite that, the compact boundary dimensions allow batters to put runs on the board, with scores beyond 150 regularly in play. Pacers, however, rarely extract something from the surface.
NZ vs AFG Probable Best Performers
Key batter to watch out for: Glenn Phillips
Glenn Phillips has emerged as one of New Zealand’s most influential T20I batters, offering power, innovation, and consistency in the middle order. Across 79 innings in the format, Phillips has scored 2,105 runs at an average of 31.41 and a strike rate of 141.56, underlining his ability to accelerate without sacrificing stability. With 11 half-centuries and two centuries to his name, his knack for turning starts into substantial scores makes him a pivotal figure and a key batter to watch in this contest.
Key bowler to watch out for: Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan remains one of the most impactful bowlers in T20 internationals, combining control with consistent wicket-taking ability. In 111 T20I matches, the Afghanistan leg-spinner has claimed 187 wickets, including a career-best return of 5 for 3. His exceptional numbers are underlined by an average of 13.59 and an economy rate of just 6.02, making him a constant threat.
NZ vs AFG Match Prediction ICC T20 World Cup 2026
New Zealand start as slight favourites due to their experience and batting depth, but Afghanistan’s spin attack keeps the contest finely balanced. Expect a close game, with New Zealand holding a narrow edge unless the pitch strongly aids spin.
NZ vs AFG: Probable XIs
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner(C), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry/Kyle Jamieson.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Darwish Rasooli, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (c), Abdullah Ahmadzai/Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq.