Spin-heavy Afghanistan choose to bowl against New Zealand

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan won the toss and chose to bat against New Zealand national cricket team in a day game at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Chennai. The 11am start time, coupled with the absence of dew in daytime conditions, appeared to play a key role in Afghanistan’s decision, as they looked to maximise the value of their bowling resources later in the match.

Afghanistan doubled down on spin, selecting three specialist spinners in Rashid, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi. There was, however, no place for left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad, despite his strong record at Chepauk with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Afghanistan opted instead for a balanced attack that combined spin control with seam-bowling depth.

With Naveen-ul-Haq sidelined through injury, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi came into the XI alongside left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi as the two frontline pacers. Seam-bowling allrounders Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib provide additional flexibility with the ball.

New Zealand, by contrast, went in a different direction. Captain Mitchell Santner was the lone specialist spinner, with wristspinner Ish Sodhi left out as the side leaned heavily on pace on a surface that showed a tinge of grass. Matt Henry leads a fast-bowling group that also includes Lockie Ferguson and Jacob Duffy.

At the top of the order, Finn Allen returned after recovering from a shoulder niggle, partnering Tim Seifert. Rachin Ravindra, back from illness, slotted in at No. 3, while Michael Bracewell missed out due to a calf injury.

The match is being played at MA Chidambaram Stadium, which recently underwent a full outfield relaying. With no competitive cricket played there since IPL 2025, conditions remain something of an unknown, adding another layer of intrigue to the contest.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.