What is the news?
The New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC) has announced its team for the T20 World Cup 2026 to be played in India and Sri Lanka. Jacob Duffy has also got a place in the team captained by Mitchell Santner. Fast bowler Duffy is ready to play his first World Cup. Let us tell you that the Kiwi team will start its campaign with a match against Afghanistan on 8 February. Let’s take a look at the New Zealand team.
Duffy did wonders in 2025
Last year, Duffy performed brilliantly in the T-20 International and was the highest wicket-taker for his team. He took 35 wickets in 21 T20 International matches in 2025 at an average of 15.08. Duffy joins Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry and Adam Milne in the fast bowling department, and the team also has an all-rounder option in Jimmy Neesham.
This is the New Zealand team for the T-20 World Cup
New Zealand has not selected all-rounder Kyle Jamieson in its 15-man squad. However, he has been added as a traveling reserve.
New Zealand teamSquad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, and Ish Sodhi.
Ferguson and Henry will get paternity leave
“Ferguson and Henry’s partner are due to give birth during the tournament, so it is likely they will be granted a short period of paternity leave,” NZC said. Tim Robinson, who scored a brilliant century in the match against Australia in October last year, has not been able to make his place in the team. At the same time, Seifert will handle the responsibility of wicketkeeping and Conway will be the back-up wicketkeeper.
Eyes will be on Ish Sodhi’s performance
Apart from Santner, the New Zealand team has an experienced spinner in the form of Ish Sodhi, who has experience of the conditions in India and Sri Lanka. Sodhi has taken 157 wickets so far in his T20 international career. While playing in Asia, he has taken 37 wickets with an economy rate of 7.40. The New Zealand team is present in Group D in the T20 World Cup tournament, which has Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa and UAE as the other teams.
What did coach Rob Walter say on team selection?
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter is excited about the challenge of the upcoming tournament and believes the Kiwis are well-balanced to deal with Asian conditions. Walter said, “World Cups are special and there can be no better place than India. As always, the balance of the team is very important. We have a lot of strength in batting, on the other hand we have useful bowlers who can adapt to the conditions.”
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