The New Zealand men’s cricket team is set to take on Afghanistan in the 4th match of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup campaign, starting February 8. Notably, this match will be held at 11:00 am IST at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. There are two more matches after this on Sunday. England take on Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium whereas co-hosts Sri Lanka face Ireland in Colombo.

New Zealand come into this tournament on the back of a 4-1 series defeat against India. New Zealand will be keen to make an impression. They had a premature exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Afghanistan, under Rashid Khan, will be aiming to tick the right boxes. They are one of the dark horses. They reached the semis of T20 World Cup 2024 and another such run will be crucial.

What is the Context of the NZ vs AFG match?

New Zealand have a balanced outfit blended with fine batters, sturdy all-rounders and a good bowling attack. NZ have plenty of options to pick from and they will want to find the right balance.

On the other hand, the Afghans have played quality cricket of late. They beat West Indies 2-1 last month in a T20I series. Afghanistan were also involved in two T20 World Cup warm-up matches and won both of them comfortably.

In terms of the head-to-head record, the two sides have met just twice. Both sides share a win each.

New Zealand – Probable Playing XI

Finn Allen: After a strong BBL 2025-26 season, Finn Allen shone in the 5th T20I against India. He is a threat for the Afghans. Allen has 1365 runs in T20Is (SR: 165-plus).

Tim Seifert (wk): The veteran batter is closing in on 2000 runs in T20Is. He averages over 29 and has slammed 13 fifties.

Rachin Ravindra: He has upped the tempo in his game. Ravindra is a solid player of spin. In 43 T20Is, he has scored 630 runs at 19.68.

Daryl Mitchell: He brings wealth of experience and shield into this middle order. Mitchell has 1799 runs from 95 T20Is (85 innings). 

Glenn Phillips: The spin all-rounder adds solidity. Phillips is a three dimensional player. He owns 2105 runs from 88 T20Is at 31.41.

Mark Chapman: A regular presence in this NZ side, Chapman owns 1588 runs from 85 matches. His strike rate is 141.91.

Mitchell Santner (c): The star all-rounder and captain can be a genuine match-winner. He owns 135 scalps from 127 matches. With the bat, he is closing in on 1000 runs.

Jacob Duffy: The pacer owns 59 scalps from 43 T20Is for New Zealand. His average of 18.52 is solid.

Lockie Ferguson: He will lead the Kiwi attack. Ferguson can be a solid option in death overs. In 44 matches, he has 66 scalps in T20Is.

Ish Sodhi: He will be the main spinner in New Zealand’s ranks. Sodhi owns 162 wickets and is three shy of becoming the highest wicket-taker for the Kiwis.

Matt Henry: The right-arm pacer will lend his voice. In 34 matches, he has picked 43 scalps for NZ in T20Is.

Player to watch out for (Finn Allen): The aggressive opener can attack any opposition and take them to the cleaners. He will be someone the Kiwis can rely on for fireworks upfront.

Afghanistan – Probable Playing XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk): In 83 matches, Gurbaz has collected 2139 runs at 25.77. He has 12 fifties and a ton.

Ibrahim Zadran: He is a classy batter and will provide his side a cushion. He owns 1695 runs at an average of close to 32. 

Sediqullah Atal: He will bring stability at number three. He owns 532 runs from 25 T20Is. Atal has hit 4 fifties. 

Darwish Rasooli: The Afghan batter has appeared in 24 T20Is and has scored 443 runs at 22.15.

Azmatullah Omarzai: He is one of the best all-rounders. He has picked 45 scalps and has also hit over 700 runs.

Mohammad Nabi: The veteran spin all-rounder has collected 2430 runs from 148 T20Is. With the ball, he has claimed 104 wickets.

Rashid Khan(c): He has featured in several global T20 leagues. Rashid is a world class spinner. He has 185 T20I scalps and close to 700 wickets in T20s.

Gulbadin Naib: The pace all-rounder owns 35 scalps with the ball and has smashed 993 runs with the bat.

Fazalhaq Farooqi: The pacer will lead the line for Afghanistan. He owns 65 scalps at 19.60. 

Noor Ahmad: The young spinner is a class act. In 24 T20Is, he has claimed 20 wickets. He has gained good experience playing in the IPL.

Abdullah Ahmadzai: The pacer owns 13 wickets from 8 T20Is. He averages 18.07 with the ball.

Player to watch out for (Rashid Khan): He is the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket. A player who has thrived in the sub-continent.

Top Batters for Dream11

In terms of the Dream11 team pick, among batters, the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra can be wise picks alongside Ibrahim Zadran and Glenn Phillips.

Finn Allen can be a differential pick. He promises fireworks and a sound tempo. 

Best All-Rounders to Boost Points

In terms of all-rounders, one can go with two sound options in the form of Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi.

Bowlers to Watch in Dream11

With the surface being balanced, the likes of Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rashid Khan can be wise picks. Ish Sodhi can be another option in spin.

Captain and Vice-captain picks

Allen can be an ideal captaincy option with Zadran being the vice-captain pick. 

One can mix it with Rashid being picked as captain and Phillips as the vice-captain. 

Pitch Report & Venue Conditions

The MA Chidambaram Stadium has historically favored spinners who can exploit grip and variation. Afghanistan possess the perfect spin unit to trouble opposition batters on such surfaces. The pitch will offer plenty of assistance from the start, making batting tricky and rewarding bowlers who maintain discipline. Afghanistan’s strategy should revolve around building pressure through spin, forcing mistakes, and restricting scoring opportunities. New Zealand too have a decent spin attacking options and pacers who can vary their pace. So altogether, a spin friendly show will be on offer.

Match Prediction – Who Has the Upper Hand?

All things considered, Afghanistan will be the slight favourites given the nature of the threat for spinners. They have plenty of arsenal in their ranks to frustrate New Zealand, who will aim to express themselves.  

FAQs About NZ vs AFG Playing 11

Who are the key players in the NZ vs AFG clash?

Rashid Khan is the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket. A player who has thrived in the sub-continent. For NZ, Finn Allen can attack any opposition and take them to the cleaners. He will be someone the Kiwis can rely on for fireworks upfront.

The post ICC T20 World Cup 2026: New Zealand vs Afganistan Playing XI, Match Preview & Fantasy Tips appeared first on Read.