New Zealand vs Afghanistan – 4th Match Group D
The 4th match of Group D in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 will see New Zealand take on Afghanistan on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. The match is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM local time (5:30 AM GMT).
New Zealand enter this contest with a powerful and well-balanced squad. Their batting lineup is led by Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, providing a solid top order and explosive middle-order firepower. Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, and James Neesham add all-round depth and aggression.
In the bowling department, New Zealand boast a strong and varied attack featuring Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner (c), Ish Sodhi, Michael Bracewell, offering both high-quality pace and world-class spin options perfectly suited to spin-friendly Chennai conditions.
Afghanistan come into this match with a dangerous and confident unit. Their batting unit includes Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, providing strong partnerships and middle-order acceleration. Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, and Azmatullah Omarzai add depth and aggression.
Afghanistan’s bowling attack is led by Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Nabi, providing an exceptional mix of world-class spin and effective pace to challenge any batting lineup.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium pitch in Chennai typically offers good turn and grip from the outset, assisting spinners significantly throughout the game, with some help for pacers early on due to bounce and seam. In day games, dew is usually minimal, allowing spinners to dominate in the middle and death overs. Batters can play freely once set, but scoring becomes challenging against quality spin. A first-innings total of around 150–175 is generally considered competitive at this venue in T20Is.
Expert Prediction: Afghanistan have 54% chance and New Zealand have 46% winning chance.
Disclaimer: This video expresses the author’s personal insights and analysis. We encourage readers to consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.
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