![New Zealand Predicted Playing XI vs Bangladesh [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1777193741148_NewZealand.jpg?type=hq)
New Zealand Predicted Playing XI vs Bangladesh [Source: AFP]
Bangladesh and New Zealand cricket teams will collide in the first T20I of their upcoming three-match series. The match will be hosted by the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Monday, April 27 and the action will commence from 1:30 PM IST onwards.
New Zealand’s white-ball tour started off with a three-match ODI series. While the visitors won the series-opener in Dhaka, Bangladesh won the subsequent two matches to clinch the series 2-1.
Bangladesh vs New Zealand 1st T20I Preview
A full-strength New Zealand team reached the final of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup a couple of months ago in India. A few weeks later, an understrength New Zealand team lost its five-match home T20I series to South Africa by a 2-3 margin.
Even the current New Zealand team in Bangladesh is missing several of its first-choice players owing to the concurrent IPL 2026 season. After losing to South Africa at home, New Zealand’s young brigade now has another chance to prove its worth in challenging subcontinental conditions.
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For Bangladesh, the series marks as their return to the T20I lore after a gap of nearly five months. After defeating Ireland 2-1 at home last December, the Bangladesh team pulled out of the 2026 T20 World Cup in India citing security concerns.
Litton Das will continue to lead the national side, and he will be assisted by his deputy Saif Hassan.
Ahead of the match, here is a look at the best probable playing XI of the New Zealand team against Bangladesh.
New Zealand Playing XI vs Bangladesh- 1st T20I, 2026
Openers and Top Order: Tim Robinson, Tom Latham, Dane Cleaver
In the absence of New Zealand’s first-choice opening pair, young Tim Robinson will likely open the innings for his side in the T20Is against Bangladesh.
The cricketer also opened the innings against South Africa at home, and he will be joined by his captain and comeback man Tom Latham at the top of the order.
Latham holds an overall T20 strike rate of 132.81, and can anchor the innings at the top on spin-friendly Bangladesh surfaces.
Fellow wicketkeeper-batter Dean Cleaver will be expected to bat at number three after taking the position in the South Africa T20Is last month.
Middle Order and All Rounders: Nick Kelly, Dean Foxcroft, Bevon Jacobs, Josh Clarkson
Nick Kelly failed to leave a mark in his debut T20I series against South Africa. The 32-year-old has now received yet another opportunity to demonstrate his T20 pedigree at the highest level for New Zealand.
Dean Foxcroft, who is yet to play a single T20I in two years, recently scored valuable runs in the ODIs against Bangladesh. The 28-year-old can also lend his arm to bowl a few overs of quality off-spin, and he will be expected to command New Zealand’s middle order alongside Kelly.
Hard-hitting Bevon Jacobs will likely bat at number six after leaving the PSL 2026 in Pakistan to join his national side. Batting all-rounder Josh Clarkson might take the number seven position and he will be desperate to make amends for his flop ODI show in the country.
Bowlers: Ben Lister, Jayen Lennox, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi
Fast bowler Ben Lister was included in New Zealand’s travelling squad as a replacement of Katene Clarke. Lister has not played a single T20I in over two years, and will be aiming to make the most of his comeback series.
Fellow paceman Ben Sears has also joined the New Zealand team after cutting short his PSL 2026 tour in Pakistan for the RawalPindiZ.
Legendary spinner Ish Sodhi, with an experience of 140 T20Is and a haul of 162 wickets, might constitute New Zealand’s primary spin attack alongside uncapped Jayden Lennox.
New Zealand Playing XI vs Bangladesh- Tim Robinson, Tom Latham (c and wk), Dane Cleaver, Nick Kelly, Dean Foxcroft, Bevon Jacobs, Josh Clarkson, Ben Lister, Jayen Lennox, Ben Sears and Ish Sodhi
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