The NZ vs CAN T20 World Cup 2026 match is set to take place on February 17, 2026, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India. This is the 31st match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, and it is of critical importance to New Zealand as they will be attempting to qualify for the Super Eight stage. Canada, on the other hand, will be hoping to cause an upset and record their first win of the tournament.
📍 Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | NZ vs CAN – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | February 17, 2026 |
| Time | 11:00 AM IST / 05:30 GMT |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium |
| Location | Chennai, India |
| Match No. | 31 (Group D) |
👥 Team Squads
New Zealand Squad
| Player | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Santner (c) | Bowling Allrounder | |
| Finn Allen † | Top-order Batter | |
| Mark Chapman | Allrounder | |
| Devon Conway | Wicketkeeper Batter | |
| Jacob Duffy | Bowler | |
| Lockie Ferguson | Bowler | |
| Matt Henry | Bowler | |
| Kyle Jamieson | Bowler | |
| Daryl Mitchell | Batting Allrounder | |
| James Neesham | Batting Allrounder | |
| Glenn Phillips | Allrounder | |
| Tim Seifert | Batter | |
| Trent Boult | Bowler | |
| Rachin Ravindra | Allrounder | |
| Ish Sodhi | Bowler |
Canada Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Dilpreet Bajwa (c) | Allrounder |
| Navneet Dhaliwal | Middle-order Batter |
| Dilon Heyliger | Bowler |
| Ajayveer Hundal | Allrounder |
| Jaskaran Singh | Bowler |
| Kaleem Sana | Bowler |
| Nicholas Kirton | Batting Allrounder |
| Shreyas Movva | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Ansh Patel | Bowler |
| Ravinderpal Singh | Batter |
| Saad Bin Zafar | Allrounder |
| Yuvraj Samra | Opening Batter |
| Rayyan Pathan | Batter |
| Harsh Thaker | Allrounder |
| Ammar Khalid | Bowler |
Match Significance
- New Zealand (NZ): At the moment, they are ranked second in Group D, and the Black Caps are eager to ensure their qualification in the Super Eight stage by performing well in this match.
- Canada (CAN): As they continue to look for their first victory, Canada will hope to demonstrate their resilience by putting up a good fight against New Zealand.
🔮 NZ vs CAN T20 World Cup 2026 Match Prediction Analysis
The match between NZ and CAN in the T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in Chennai, is likely to be a one-sided affair, but cricket can surprise us at times. Now, let’s analyze the prediction.
📊 Team Strengths
New Zealand (NZ):
- Has a strong batting lineup in Devon Conway, Finn Allen, and Glenn Phillips who can give a blazing start.
- Has a world-class pace attack in Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, and Matt Henry.
- Has spinners like Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, who are well-suited for Chennai’s turning pitch.
- Has well-rounded all-rounders in Daryl Mitchell and James Neesham.
Canada (CAN):
- Depend heavily on experienced players like Navneet Dhaliwal and Saad Bin Zafar.
- Their bowling attack, headed by Kaleem Sana and Dilon Heyliger, has the potential to trouble the batsmen.
- Lack of exposure to top-class teams may affect their confidence levels.
- Middle-order inconsistency is a worry for them.
🏟️ Venue Impact – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- It is known for being a slow and spin-friendly pitch.
- The teams that bat first have an advantage because of scoreboard pressure.
- The New Zealand spin attack gives them a definite advantage in such conditions.
🔥 Key Battles to Watch
- Finn Allen vs Kaleem Sana – Power hitter opener vs Canadian strike bowler.
- Santner & Sodhi vs Canadian middle order – Spin duo expected to dominate.
- Navneet Dhaliwal vs Trent Boult – Canada’s most dependable batter vs world-class swing.
📈 Predicted Outcome
- Chances of NZ winning: ~80%
- Chances of CAN winning: ~20% (if their batsmen fire and their bowlers can hold NZ back early on).
- Most likely outcome: New Zealand to win easily, possibly by 30-40 or 6-7 wickets.
📝 Final Word
The NZ vs CAN T20 World Cup 2026 match is expected to display the dominance of New Zealand, but Canada will try to fight back and get as much experience as possible. For the audience, this match is an opportunity to see the new talent of Canada face one of the best T20 teams in the world.
The NZ vs CAN T20 World Cup 2026 match is expected to be an interesting one, with New Zealand aiming to maintain their dominance and Canada trying to earn their due. The spin-friendly nature of the Chennai pitch will require both teams to be cautious with their plans.
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