T20 World Cup 2025/26, AFG vs New Zealand 4th Match, Group D Match Preview

The big picture: Rematch with high stakes

Afghanistan vs New Zealand in the opening round of T20 World Cup. sounds familiar? The memories of their struggle in 2024 will be very pleasant or very scary, depending on who you support. It proved to be a decisive result with the teams going in completely opposite directions after Afghanistan’s stunning 84-run defeat in Guyana.

It kicked off Afghanistan’s fairytale semi-final run, bringing jubilation to the home streets. For New Zealand, it was effectively the beginning of the end as they suffered a rare early exit in a global tournament.

The teams have not played in any format since then, creating even more anticipation for a rematch with higher stakes. Group D is considered the ‘Group of Death’, which also includes South Africa, which increases the importance of this match for the teams considered to be the dark horse of the tournament.

New Zealand will be keen to exorcise the demons but will enter with a number of question marks after defeating India 4-1 in the series ahead of the World Cup. What is most worrying is that injuries and illness have plagued the team and a strong start to the tournament may prove difficult.

But New Zealand should at least be familiar with the conditions, as some players have been in India for almost a month. They should be strong for the match, and will be confident that the team can progress through the tournament if they can weather this early storm.

They will need to muster one of their famous backs against Wall’s efforts, although New Zealand have no shortage of talent, with a powerful batting line-up and several fast bowlers threatening to do damage when conditions are favourable.

Given the uncertainties over New Zealand, Afghanistan could enter the match as favorites as they eye a strong start to a campaign that they hope will surpass their 2024 breakout.

Afghanistan are brimming with confidence after winning six consecutive matches in this format before their 15-run defeat to West Indies in the series final in Dubai last month.

They will launch a formidable spin-heavy attack that should be enjoyed in favorable conditions. While other Asian countries are in the headlines for various reasons, Afghanistan will go under the radar but there should be optimism internally that they can inflict damage on high-profile opponents.

form guide

new zealand LWLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
afghanistanLWWWW

In the spotlight: Finn Allen and Rashid Khan

New Zealand Cricket has taken a pragmatic approach to the expansion of the T20 league by allowing players to enter into contingency agreements to be flexible with their international commitments. Finn Allen has been one of the first to accept the offer and it means he missed most of the white-ball tour against India due to the BBL. But he has expressed a strong desire to keep playing international cricket, music to the ears of the New Zealand hierarchy. He made his comeback in the fifth T20I, scoring 80 runs from 38 balls in his first international match in 10 months. After a long spell out last year due to a foot injury, Allen ignited the title-winning Perth Scorchers and he rewrote the six-hitting record during their devastating onslaught. The ferocity was such that he sometimes made even opening partner Mitchell Marsh seem calm in comparison. If he continues his heater – there are some doubts over his fitness for the opener – New Zealand will be out for flyers.

Rashid Khan, obviously, is Afghanistan’s talisman and has a big impact on their campaign. Nothing more can be said about the leggie who has taken the most wickets in T20I history at an economy of just six. These days, the burden of captaincy responsibilities is even greater on his shoulders, but he should thoroughly enjoy the potentially dry surfaces. Of course, Rashid was at the center of Afghanistan’s famous win over New Zealand in the last T20 World Cup, taking 4 for 17 in four overs and he will be hoping to do something similar here.

team news

New Zealand enter the tournament in disarray as they battle injury and illness. Batsmen Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway are battling illness, while Allen is nursing a shoulder injury sustained against India. All-rounder Michael Bracewell and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson are suffering from calf problems. The New Zealand camp is hopeful that they will have an almost full-strength squad to choose from, although Ravindra is unlikely to recover in time.

New Zealand XI (probable): 1 Finn Allen, 2 Tim Seifert (wk), 3 Rachin Ravindra/Devon Conway, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Mark Chapman, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (c), 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Ish Sodhi

Unlike New Zealand, Afghanistan have some concerns and should field a full-strength team that includes their preferred spin-heavy attack.

Afghanistan XI (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Darwish Rasouli, 5 Mohammad Nabi, 6 Gulbadin Naib, 7 Azmatullah Umarzai, 8 Rashid Khan (captain), 9 Mujeeb Ur Rehman, 10 Fazalhaq Farooqui, 11 Noor Ahmed

pitch and conditions

Only three T20 matches have been played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium so far, the most recent of which was India’s two-wicket win over England in January 2025. In that match the turn was obvious but there was also pace and bounce. But this will be the first event after the redevelopment of the iconic ground, although the pitches have been left untouched. The ground is traditionally spin-friendly but has seen less turn in recent seasons of the IPL.

The 11 am start time means the match will be played during the day and amidst Chennai’s famous humidity.

Statistics and General Knowledge

Tim Seifert needs 47 runs to become the fifth New Zealand batsman to reach 2000 T20I runs.
Rashid Khan is 13 away from becoming the first bowler to reach 200 T20I wickets
The teams have split only two T20Is played against each other.

Citation

“First of all it’s a big game for us. We know what happened last time and we know how good Afghanistan is.”
new zealand captain michel santner.

“Like we did in the ’24 World Cup, we’ve beaten big teams and I think the confidence is there.”
captain of afghanistan Rashid Khan.

Tristan Lavalette is a Perth-based journalist