New Zealand (NZ) vs Afghanistan (AFG) Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: New Zealand have started their campaign with a dominating 5 wicket win over a challenging Afghanistan in Chennai.
Hi and welcome to India Today's highlights of the T20 World Cup 2026, Group D match between New Zealand and Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram stadium.
Mitchell Santner has flipped the script in the space of two balls.
Just when the pressure was beginning to creep in, the New Zealand skipper produced exactly what was needed, a boundary followed by a six, and suddenly the chase looks far more relaxed.
The BlackCaps are firmly back in control now. Just 13 needed off 3 overs, and this one looks all but sealed.
Yes, Mujeeb did have New Zealand in a bit of a knot, with the spin asking questions and the chase briefly looking heavier than 183 should.
But with Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman together, the mood has shifted. They are taking their time, reading Mujeeb’s hand closely, and now the boundaries are starting to come through.
Slowly but surely, the BlackCaps are breathing again after a patch of real pressure.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Afghanistan’s long-serving veteran Mohammad Nabi delivered when it mattered most, removing the dangerous Tim Seifert just as he was threatening to take the game away from the Afghans.
New Zealand may still be ahead, but with this breakthrough, Afghanistan now have the bowling resources to build sustained pressure and pull the contest back in their favour.
Rashid Khan has finally found his rhythm. After being taken apart in his first over by Glenn Phillips, the Afghan talisman struck back in style, dismissing the Kiwi batter to exact swift revenge.
It’s a massive breakthrough for Afghanistan, injecting fresh energy into the contest and keeping them well and truly in the hunt for victory.
After Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck early to remove Rachin Ravindra and Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips have steadied the ship and helped New Zealand recover to an extent.
The pair has shown composure in the middle, absorbing the pressure and rebuilding after the early setbacks. However, with the required run rate still hovering above nine an over, there is plenty of work left to be done.
Seifert and Phillips will need to keep the scoreboard ticking while finding the occasional boundary if the Kiwis are to turn this recovery into a genuine fightback.
After the early strikes, the responsibility squarely rests on Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips to steady the innings while ensuring the required run rate doesn’t spiral out of control.
Both batters were in fine touch during the series against India, and this is the moment for them to lean on that form.
Seifert’s fluency and Phillips’ power give New Zealand a fighting chance to absorb the pressure, rotate the strike smartly and pick up timely boundaries.
Slight variations, good lines, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman has rocked the Kiwis in Chennai.
It is now going to be an uphill battle for the New Zealand side to chase this down. Remember this, Rashid Khan is yet to bowl in this game.
At the moment, it is crisis man Glenn Phillips, who has come into the crease.
Tim Seifert has been in red-hot form throughout the series against India, and he has wasted no time in carrying that momentum into the clash against Afghanistan.
The New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter looked sharp and assured at the crease, taking the attack to Fazalhaq Farooqi early on. His three crisp boundaries off Farooqi were a clear statement of intent.
Afghanistan have posted a competitive 182 for six at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Gulbadin Naib, one of their most experienced batters, led the charge with a fluent 63. He began cautiously but shifted gears once set, anchoring the innings expertly.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Atal, and Rasooli chipped in with scores in the 20s, providing Gulbadin with solid support. The challenge now shifts to the Black Caps batters, who must negotiate Afghanistan’s spin attack if they are to avoid a repeat of 2024, when the Afghans registered a thumping 84-run victory.
With one over left, Afghanistan will be eyeing a push beyond the 180-run mark. Azmatullah Omarzai has the power to clear the ropes, and if memories of Mohammad Nabi’s brutal assault on Dunith Wellalage in last year’s Asia Cup against Sri Lanka are anything to go by, the Afghans are more than capable of delivering the knockout punch here.
Gulbadin Naib is the key for Afghanistan in the final three overs. Batting on a half-century, he can push them beyond 180 if he stays till the end. New Zealand cannot afford to sit back at this stage.
Afghanistan batters are just trying to hack Lockie Ferguson. However, the fast bowler has not given the batters much space and is effectively using his variation - the leg cutter.
It has been 12 overs, and Afghanistan have not yet crossed the total of 100 runs.
The two wickets in the final over of the powerplay has broken Afghanistan's momentum. NZ are set to bring in spinners from both ends as they look to restrict Afghanistan below a 150-run total in this day game.
James Neesham, who was even recently playing the Nepal Cricket League has come on to bowl.
It will be interesting to see how the veteran holds his own in the T20 World Cup here.
A simple catch by the lofty standards of Glenn Phillips, and that brings the first wicket for New Zealand.
Ibrahim Zadran got it short and wide but failed to capitalise on the ball.
New Zealand have gone short and back of the length to AFG batters so far. This is a new Chennai surface, one that has been relaid, so no one quite knows how this pitch is going to react.
New Zealand have been uncharacteristically sloppy today. They dropped a catch, albeit a tough one and now have burned a review.
There is decent bounce on the Chennai pitch and teams have to be careful while reviewing the decisions today.
Meanwhile, here is the missed catch:
This is absolutely below-par stuff from New Zealand.
It should’ve been the big early breakthrough for the Black Caps, a Gurbaz dismissal served up on a plate inside the powerplay.
Instead, three fielders converged… and not one of them made the call. They’re left looking at each other with those awkward, disappointed grins.
Tim Seifert will take plenty of heat with the gloves on, but surely someone else could’ve just shouted and claimed it. Basic communication, completely missing.