In yet another fascinating clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, New Zealand will take on Canada in Match No. 31 (Group D) at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, February 17. With qualification stakes involved, both sides have plenty to play for in this crucial group-stage encounter.
Match Details: NZ vs CAN
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Match | New Zealand vs Canada, Match 31 (Group D) |
| Date | Tuesday, 17 February 2026 |
| Time | 11:00 AM IST |
| Toss Time | 10:30 AM IST |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium |
| City | Chennai |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar, FanCode |
Match Preview
New Zealand will be playing their fourth and final group-stage match, while Canada enter their third game of the tournament. The BlackCaps currently sit second on the points table with four points and are just one win away from confirming their place in the Super Eights.
Led by Mitchell Santner, New Zealand started the tournament on a strong note with convincing victories over Afghanistan and the UAE. However, their momentum was halted by South Africa, who chased down 176 runs with ease. The Kiwis will be eager to bounce back and finish the group stage on a high.
Canada, captained by Dilpreet Bajwa, have endured a tough campaign so far. Back-to-back defeats against South Africa and the UAE have left them in a must-win situation. Facing a strong New Zealand side will be a stern test, but Canada will be hoping for a spirited performance to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Head-to-Head Record: NZ vs CAN
| Team | Matches Won |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (NZ) | 0 |
| Canada (CAN) | 0 |
| No Result / Tied | 0 |
This will be the first-ever T20 World Cup meeting between New Zealand and Canada.
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Weather & Pitch Report: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Weather Report: Chennai is expected to witness clear weather conditions, with the temperature hovering around 28°C and humidity at approximately 55%.
- Pitch Report: Interestingly, the Chepauk surface has been batting-friendly in this edition of the tournament, which is a contrast to its traditional slow nature. Batters have enjoyed true bounce early on, while the pitch tends to slow down as the match progresses. Bowling in the second innings could be slightly easier, especially for spinners and cutters.
Probable Playing 11
New Zealand (NZ) Playing 11:
1. Finn Allen, 2. Tim Seifert (wk), 3. Rachin Ravindra, 4. Glenn Phillips, 5. Mark Chapman, 6. Daryl Mitchell, 7. Mitchell Santner (c), 8. James Neesham, 9. Matt Henry, 10. Kyle Jamieson, 11. Jacob Duffy
Canada (CAN) Playing 11:
1. Yuvraj Samra, 2. Dilpreet Bajwa (c), 3. Navneet Dhaliwal, 4. Nicholas Kirton, 5. Shreyas Movva (wk), 6. Harsh Thaker, 7. Saad Bin Zafar, 8. Jaskaran Singh, 9. Dilon Heyliger, 10. Kaleem Sana, 11. Ansh Patel
Who Will Win Today’s Match? (AI Prediction)
New Zealand clearly hold the upper hand in terms of experience, depth, and overall balance. Their batting lineup is explosive, and the bowling attack has enough variety to exploit Chennai conditions. Canada have shown fighting spirit but have struggled against top-quality opposition.
Unless Canada produce an exceptional all-round performance, the contest is expected to be one-sided.
AI Match Prediction: New Zealand are strong favourites to win Match 31 and qualify for the Super Eights T20 World Cup 2026.
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