New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20I (World Cup): Injury-hit NZ eye revenge

New Zealand’s opening match of the T20I World Cup – New Zealand versus Afghanistan – is going to be a test of composure, and not about what happened before. They play Afghanistan at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Sunday, February 8 (11:00 AM IST), and for those who read 99 Exchange, the reason for the interest is clear, considering 2024.

Afghanistan didn’t simply defeat the Black Caps in their previous T20I World Cup encounter; they utterly defeated them by 84 runs, dismissing them for 75. That outcome remains in the New Zealand team’s memory, and it affects every choice made here – from the batting lineup to how much spin they are able to use in the Powerplay.

Chepauk adds to the pressure in the New Zealand versus Afghanistan T20I (World Cup). The pitch can reward the batter who goes for it, but will punish those who play with stiff hands against spin, and so both teams know that the initial 30 deliveries with the bat and ball will establish the tone for the entire 40 overs.

New Zealand versus Afghanistan T20I (World Cup) is in Group D, which doesn’t allow for sluggish beginnings, as South Africa, Canada and UAE are in the same group, and only two sides will progress. Although New Zealand talking about “getting their own back” sounds good in news reports, the real goal is two points and a net run rate that doesn’t cause issues for them later on.

In Depth

The 2024 setback and relevance

Afghanistan’s 2024 victory in their T20I World Cup match against New Zealand was founded on two stages: a composed opening partnership that lessened the effect of New Zealand’s new-ball attack, and then a spin and left-arm pace strategy which turned a 160 target into a collapse. New Zealand were all out for 75 in 15.2 overs, with Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi doing the bulk of the damage.

That game showed a tendency New Zealand have shown in this period: when an innings goes against them on a slow pitch, they generally choose a risky slog instead of the safer single. In Chennai, this attitude could assist Afghanistan’s biggest strength – the pressure they build with each ball, rather than relying on a single, amazing spell.

For Afghanistan, the memory is a different sort of encouragement. They are aware that they can outsmart New Zealand in a World Cup situation, and they know the Black Caps will come in with a “sort it out now” feeling of urgency that could lead to hasty shots.

Why Chepauk is a spinner’s examination

Chepauk isn’t merely “spin-friendly”; it is particular. Anyone who watches CSK at Chepauk understands the rule: hit straight, run hard, and accept that boundaries will come in phases.

When the pitch is new, you can score easily if you judge the length quickly, but as the ball gets older, the grip and angle from the surface cause errors. A daytime start reduces the possibility of substantial dew making the contest less challenging.

T20I history at the ground is limited, but the average first-innings score in T20Is at Chepauk – 174 – indicates this won’t automatically be a 130 run game. It becomes a low-scoring contest when batters stop moving their feet.

Outlook’s venue report says that teams batting first have won six of the last ten T20 matches at this ground, which matches the “set a target and control” logic. A morning start gives captains more confidence to bowl spin earlier with a drier ball.

New Zealand injury and bowling issues

For New Zealand versus Afghanistan T20I (World Cup), the main injury problem is Adam Milne: he is out of the tournament with a hamstring injury, and Kyle Jamieson has been chosen as his substitute. Milne’s speed and awkward bounce are ideal for the “hard length” plan New Zealand favour at the end of an innings, so the attack’s balance is altered the moment he’s gone.

Then there are the late fitness doubts. Finn Allen (shoulder), Michael Bracewell (calf) and Rachin Ravindra (illness) did not play in the practice match against USA, and Lockie Ferguson has been managing his return to action. Even if all four are fit, these concerns will affect how aggressively New Zealand can plan their fielding and bowling changes.

Mitchell Santner has openly discussed one issue following the India tour: control with the ball in the Powerplay. New Zealand lost that five-match series 4-1, and Santner has highlighted the early-overs trend as something every team will try to achieve in this World Cup.

On a pitch like Chennai, the Powerplay battle isn’t only about pace. It is about how quickly you can bring spin into play without allowing the required run rate to rise, and whether you trust a spinner to bowl in the first six overs with only two fielders on the boundary.

New Zealand batting approach

If New Zealand are going to turn this game around, it begins with their top order refusing to give Afghanistan easy wickets. Finn Allen and Tim Seifert represent a change from earlier line-ups: more intention, a wider range of shots, and a greater willingness to hit spin straight, rather than only across the line.

Seifert’s figures in 2025 demonstrate why New Zealand have chosen him, with 559 T20I runs in the year at an average of 50.81 and a strike rate of 164.4. On a slow pitch, this combination of purpose and skill is extremely valuable. Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell are the people New Zealand rely on to hold the innings together, and in Chennai – a place where ‘holding’ can still mean scoring at 8.5 runs an over if you move quickly and choose the correct bowler to go after – that is important. Glenn Phillips is key: if he gets 25 off 14 balls, New Zealand could have Rashid bowl all four of his overs and still get a score at least as good as par.

The trouble is that the middle overs could turn into a match of who hits the biggest six. Afghanistan want New Zealand to go for shots against the spin, not with the spin, and Rashid and Noor Ahmad might make batters try to hit balls they should really push for two runs.

Afghanistan bowling strength and options

Afghanistan’s bowling is the Rashid Khan show, with help from both sides. They turn up to the tournament with what most sides would be envious of in India: a number of spin bowlers who are able to bowl at any time. Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi mean Afghanistan can match left and right-handed batters, protect the shorter side of the ground and make a batter unsure about the speed of the ball.

Rashid’s name is well known, and the figures NewsBytes gives show how many wickets he has taken: 187 T20I wickets at an average of 13.59. The crowd in Chennai have seen this before in the IPL, as the best spinners punish impatience.

The first few overs are important too. Fazalhaq Farooqi can make the ball move at the start, and then later on with the cutter, and Azmatullah Omarzai gives them a fast bowler who can make the ball bounce without losing control.

Afghanistan batting: foundation and attack

The first six overs from Afghanistan can decide if this is a chase of 150 or 180. Rahmanullah Gurbaz has shown he can play a long innings in the Powerplay and still use the sweep shot against spin, and Ibrahim Zadran gives him a more careful partner who can keep his shape on a slow pitch.

NewsBytes points out a trend with Zadran: he has the most fifty-plus scores in T20Is for Afghanistan (14). In Chennai, a ‘steady’ 45 could win the match if it allows the finishers to attack with confidence.

New Zealand will want to make Afghanistan chase a score that needs boundary hitting into the longer parts of the ground, as this shows up issues with timing against a ball that stays low on the pitch. The Afghan middle order – led by Nabi and Gulbadin Naib – are better at carefully timed shots than all-out hitting, and this could work in Chennai if they keep wickets in hand.

Key match-ups

The easiest way to two points

New Zealand have advantages that are clear: a deeper batting line-up, more options for hitting boundaries, and enough variety in their bowling to match Afghanistan at any time. Their problems are equally clear: injuries and fitness worries, and a recent series which showed how quickly their bowling can go for runs when the Powerplay goes wrong.

Afghanistan’s path is simpler. Win the Powerplay with the ball, keep New Zealand to ones and twos between overs seven and fifteen, and then let Rashid and Noor bowl at the time batters want to hit, and that is when a little patience counts for New Zealand. Can the Kiwis be patient enough to make Afghanistan move away from this comfort?

Key Takeaways

• This Match 4 Group D game is at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on February 8, 11:00 AM IST, with JioHotstar showing it on streaming and Star Sports on TV in India.
• Afghanistan beat New Zealand by 84 runs at the 2024 T20 World Cup and bowled them out for 75, which creates the ‘revenge’ story.
• New Zealand came into this after losing a T20I series to India 4-1, and Santner has said that controlling the Powerplay bowling is what they are working on.
• Adam Milne is out of the tournament with a pulled hamstring and Kyle Jamieson has come in, changing New Zealand’s pace attack.
• Chepauk’s T20I average first-innings score is 174, so this could be a proper batting game if the sides move well and hit the ball straight.

Wrap-up

The New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20I (World Cup) in Chennai is a World Cup opener where small choices add up quickly: when to bring on spin, when to attack Rashid, and when to take a single as a victory. Afghanistan’s plan is based on discipline and consistent pressure, and New Zealand’s plan is based on staying calm when that pressure comes.

If New Zealand start well, the memory of 2024 disappears and Group D becomes open. If Afghanistan can get their squeeze going early, Chepauk could feel small for the batter and large for the bowler, and New Zealand’s tournament will start with another unpleasant reminder.