🇳🇿 New Zealand Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Full Team List & Key Players
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, marks another exciting campaign for New Zealand — the most consistent ICC tournament team of the past decade. Known for discipline, balance, and a calm approach under pressure, the Black Caps will be led by Mitchell Santner, who steps in with tactical clarity and vast experience in spin-friendly Asian conditions.
Armed with explosive batters, multi-dimensional all-rounders, and a strong pace attack, New Zealand enters Group D alongside South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, and UAE. Their ability to adapt quickly to conditions could make them one of the toughest sides in the tournament.
New Zealand Likely Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
| No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Santner (C) | Captain / Bowling All-rounder |
| 2 | Devon Conway (wk) | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| 3 | Tim Seifert (wk) | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| 4 | Rachin Ravindra | Batting All-rounder |
| 5 | Daryl Mitchell | Batting All-rounder |
| 6 | Michael Bracewell | Batting All-rounder |
| 7 | James Neesham | Batting All-rounder |
| 8 | Mark Chapman | All-rounder |
| 9 | Bevon Jacobs | Middle-order Batter |
| 10 | Tim Robinson | Top-order Batter |
| 11 | Zak Foulkes | All-rounder |
| 12 | Kyle Jamieson | Fast Bowler |
| 13 | Matt Henry | Fast Bowler |
| 14 | Jacob Duffy | Fast Bowler |
| 15 | Ben Sears / Lockie Ferguson (expected) | Fast Bowler |
Leadership & Team Management
- Captain: Mitchell Santner
- Head Coach: Gary Stead
- Vice-Captain (expected): Daryl Mitchell
Mitchell Santner brings a calm yet strategic leadership style, perfectly suited for the spin-friendly pitches of India and Sri Lanka. Supported by experienced campaigners like Conway and Neesham, the team management ensures a blend of tactical awareness and attacking flair.
New Zealand’s Group – T20 World Cup 2026
| Team | Qualification Path |
|---|---|
| New Zealand 🇳🇿 | ICC Men’s T20I Rankings |
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | Top 7 finish – T20 WC 2024 |
| Afghanistan 🇦🇫 | Top 7 finish – T20 WC 2024 |
| Canada 🇨🇦 | Americas Qualifier |
| UAE 🇦🇪 | Asia/EAP Qualifier |
This is a challenging group with high-quality pace attacks, spin threats, and unpredictable emerging teams — all requiring precision and adaptability.
New Zealand Group Stage Matches – T20 World Cup 2026
| Match No. | Date | Venue | Teams | Time (LOCAL) | Time (GMT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th Match, Group D | Sun, Feb 8, 2026 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | New Zealand 🇳🇿 vs Afghanistan 🇦🇫 | 11:00 AM | 05:30 AM |
| 11th Match, Group D | Tue, Feb 10, 2026 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | New Zealand 🇳🇿 vs UAE 🇦🇪 | 3:00 PM | 09:30 AM |
| 24th Match, Group D | Sat, Feb 14, 2026 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | New Zealand 🇳🇿 vs South Africa 🇿🇦 | 7:00 PM | 01:30 PM |
| 31st Match, Group D | Tue, Feb 17, 2026 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | New Zealand 🇳🇿 vs Canada 🇨🇦 | 11:00 AM | 05:30 AM |
Predicted Playing XI
| Position | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devon Conway (wk) | Left-hand Opening Batter |
| 2 | Tim Robinson | Top-order Batter |
| 3 | Rachin Ravindra | Batting All-rounder |
| 4 | Daryl Mitchell | Middle-order Batter |
| 5 | Mark Chapman | All-rounder |
| 6 | James Neesham | Batting All-rounder |
| 7 | Michael Bracewell | Batting All-rounder |
| 8 | Mitchell Santner (C) | Bowling All-rounder |
| 9 | Kyle Jamieson | Fast Bowler |
| 10 | Matt Henry | Fast Bowler |
| 11 | Jacob Duffy | Fast Medium Bowler |
Bench Strength: Tim Seifert, Bevon Jacobs, Zak Foulkes
Team Strengths & Key Analysis
Balanced All-Round Core: New Zealand’s lineup features multiple genuine all-rounders — Santner, Neesham, Mitchell, and Bracewell — giving unmatched flexibility in both batting depth and bowling options.
Experienced Leadership: Mitchell Santner’s leadership and experience in subcontinental conditions will help New Zealand adapt to spin-dominated pitches with clarity and precision.
Reliable Top Order: Devon Conway’s calm presence alongside youngsters like Robinson and Ravindra provides both stability and scoring flair in the powerplay.
Potent Pace Battery: The trio of Jamieson, Henry, and Duffy adds sharp bounce and control, ensuring pressure is maintained even in spin-heavy conditions.
New Zealand’s Road to Glory
With semifinal finishes in 2022 and 2024, the Black Caps chase their first-ever T20 World Cup title. Their adaptable style, disciplined bowling, and deep batting order make them one of the most complete sides in the competition.
Final Word
The New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 squad stands as one of the most balanced sides in the competition. From Conway’s reliability to Santner’s spin control and Jamieson’s pace, this Kiwi unit is equipped for all conditions.
As always, expect New Zealand to approach every game with tactical sharpness, unity, and quiet aggression — the traits that define their cricketing identity.