Chennai, India – Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in their Group D clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup , at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The decision reflects Afghanistan’s confidence in setting a competitive total on what is expected to be a turning pitch.
Rashid Khan articulated his team’s strategy, stating, “We will bat first. It is a first game and a fresh wicket. It is important to put runs on the board. The spinners will get help as the match progresses. We have played a lot of cricket and all the players have experienced. Hopefully, we will give our best performance today.”
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner admitted uncertainty regarding the optimal approach, acknowledging the pitch conditions. “I am not sure whether batting or bowling first is good. There is some grass. I think the pitch will play pretty well. We are ready to go. We struggled against India, but the guys are excited for the match,” Santner said.
Team Composition Reflects Strategic Priorities
Afghanistan’s XI features a strong spin attack, with Rashid Khan leading the charge alongside Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi. Notably, left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad, who has found success at Chepauk playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, was not included in the starting lineup. The seam attack will be spearheaded by Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, who replaces the injured Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi, with support from seam-bowling all-rounders Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib.
New Zealand, in contrast, has opted for a pace-heavy attack with only one specialist spinner in captain Mitchell Santner. Wristspinner Ish Sodhi was left out of the XI. Matt Henry will lead the seam attack, supported by Lockie Ferguson and Jacob Duffy. Rachin Ravindra, who had been sidelined due to illness, has recovered sufficiently to return to the team, slotting in at number three. Michael Bracewell, recovering from a calf injury, did not make the cut.
Pitch Conditions and Recent Renovations
The MA Chidambaram Stadium recently underwent significant renovations, including a complete overhaul of the outfield. While the pitches themselves remained untouched, the conditions are somewhat unpredictable, having not hosted a competitive match since the IPL in April 2025. CSK players have reportedly found it challenging to read the surfaces recently, adding an element of uncertainty to the match.
Squads
Afghanistan: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Darwish Rasooli, 5 Azmatullah Omarzai, 6 Gulbadin Naib, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan (capt), 9 Fazalhaq Farooqi, 10 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 11 Ziaur Rahman Sharifi
New Zealand: 1 Finn Allen, 2 Tim Seifert (wk), 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Mark Chapman, 6 Daryl Mitchell, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 Jimmy Neesham, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Jacob Duffy
Context and Previous Encounters
This match carries significant weight for both teams. New Zealand will be seeking to avenge a heavy defeat at the hands of Afghanistan in their previous T20 World Cup group stage encounter. In that match, Afghanistan posted 159/6, largely thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 80, before dismissing New Zealand for just 75, with Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi causing significant damage with the ball.
New Zealand enters this contest following a 4-1 series loss to India, and will be looking to regain momentum. Afghanistan, has been in strong form, winning six consecutive T20 matches before a recent 15-run loss to West Indies in Dubai last month. The Kiwis will be hoping to capitalize on the conditions and their pace attack to contain the Afghan batting lineup, while Afghanistan will rely on its spinners to exploit any assistance from the Chennai pitch.
The match promises a compelling contest between two teams with contrasting strategies and recent form. Afghanistan’s decision to bat first suggests a belief in their ability to post a challenging total and utilize their spin attack to defend it. New Zealand will need to adapt quickly to the conditions and execute their game plan effectively to overcome a determined Afghanistan side.
