Rashid Khan won the toss and opted to bat first as Afghanistan rolled the dice with a spin-heavy XI, fielding three specialist spinners against New Zealand. After a blockbuster opening day of the 2026 T20 World Cup, the tournament shifted into top gear on matchday two with anticipation running high.

Sunday’s action opened with a mouth-watering clash between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the iconic M Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, a venue famed for gripping encounters and charged-up atmospheres. With both teams keen to make an early statement, the contest promised momentum, intensity, and another thrilling chapter as the World Cup began to gather real pace.

Teams

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

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi.