![New Zealand face India in the T20 World Cup Final on Sunday, March 8 [Source: Visharad_KW22/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1772859979297_TimSeifertFinnAllenNewZealand.jpg?type=hq)
New Zealand face India in the T20 World Cup Final on Sunday, March 8 [Source: Visharad_KW22/X.com]
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has reached its conclusion after 54 matches played in the past month, as New Zealand face India in the final of the competition. The two teams will lock horns at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8 at 7 PM (IST).
On their way to the highly anticipated final, the Kiwis defeated the 2024 finalists, South Africa, in the semi-final by 9 wickets. It was followed by a high-scoring encounter between India and England, where the hosts emerged victorious by 7 runs in semi-final 2.
India vs New Zealand Preview
The Blackcaps finished second in their group behind South Africa with three wins in four matches. They backed it up with a solitary win against Sri Lanka in Super 8 and got to the semi-final over Pakistan on the virtue of net run-rate.
Opener Finn Allen is their leading run-scorer with 289 runs in 7 innings at a strike rate of 203.52 and a 33-ball-century in the semi-final. Tim Seifert has 274 runs in the same number of innings, striking at 161.17.
With the ball, Rachin Ravindra has been used by them to perfection and has crucial 11 wickets in 6 innings, conceding at just 6.88 runs per over. Matt Henry has 9 scalps at an economy of 7.59.
On the other hand, India finished the group stage unbeaten before suffering their only loss of the tournament against South Africa in the Super 8. They finished second in the second round and faced England in the semi-final at the Wankhede.
Ishan Kishan is India’s leading run-scorer with 263 runs in 8 innings at a strike rate of 189.20 with two fifties to his name. With the ball, despite a topsy-turvy form, Varun Chakravarthy leads the charts as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 13 scalps in 8 matches at an economy rate of 8.85 runs per over.
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New Zealand Probable Playing XI vs India- Final
Openers and Top Order – Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra
New Zealand are heavily dependent on how the duo of Finn Allen and Tim Seifert, famously called the Bash Brothers, fares in the powerplay. As a pair, they have accumulated the most runs in the tournament (463 runs in 7 innings), with a fifty and two century stands.
Rachin Ravindra will follow them in the New Zealand Playing XI vs India at number 3, who has 128 runs in 6 innings with a fifty to his name. He was key to their semi-final qualification with an all-round performance against Sri Lanka.
Middle Order and All Rounders – Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie
The New Zealand Playing XI vs India middle-order will start with Glenn Phillips, who has been in some fine form throughout their time in India over the past couple of months and has 176 runs at a strike rate of 160 in the tournament. He can also chip in with overs with his off-break bowling.
Mark Chapman will come in at 5 after scoring 91 runs in 4 innings, striking at a healthy rate of 168.51 so far. Daryl Mitchell will cap off the top-6 with his experience and good performances against India in bilateral matches, giving them confidence.
The Kiwis will play with three all-rounders, starting with James Neesham, who has only batted once in the tournament, scoring 23(15) and picking 3 wickets in 5 innings. Slotted at 8 and will be the captain, Mitchell Santner. He has scored 77 valuable runs at 157.14 alongside two wickets at a miserly economy rate of 6.33 in the tournament.
The long batting line-up will end with the wild-card entry in the squad as Michael Bracewell's replacement, Cole McConchie. He got a match-turning 31* (23) vs Sri Lanka and picked 2 wickets in 4 games. McConchie will also be used in the New Zealand Playing XI vs India with the ball in the powerplay to trouble Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan after their recent struggles against off-spinners.
Bowlers – Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry
The only two frontline pacers of the New Zealand Playing XI vs India will be Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson. Despite Jacob Duffy’s promising performances in the lead-up to the competition, he lost his place in the XI, considering the team combinations.
Henry is known for his disciplined and threatening new-ball bowling and has 9 wickets to his name so far. He will also operate late in the innings and is capable of scalping wickets in crunch situations.
Another all-phase bowler, Lockie Ferguson, has bowled a few brilliant spells in the tournament and picked 6 wickets in 6 innings. He will be an x-factor bowler in the New Zealand Playing XI vs India and will be key to their chances to lift their first T20 World Cup against a power-packed Indian batting line-up.
New Zealand Playing XI vs India- Final, T20 World Cup 2026 – Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry.
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