Canada face New Zealand in the 31st match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai with the Kiwis firm favourites following contrasting tournament starts. Canada seek their first win after two defeats, while New Zealand look to consolidate their position in the Super Eight race.
Match details
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India
Date: Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Time: 11:00 IST | 10:30 PKT | 05:30 GMT | 21:30 PST (16 Feb)
Team overviews
Canada enter this contest with two defeats in Group D, beaten by South Africa and the United Arab Emirates respectively. Their batting has shown flashes of resistance with contributions from Harsh Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal, but inconsistency has left them struggling to post or chase challenging totals. Their bowling attack has lacked penetration at this level, with only Saad Bin Zafar offering regular breakthroughs. Canada must lift both batting and bowling standards if they are to challenge New Zealand.
New Zealand, after two dominant wins including a record-setting opening stand against UAE, suffered a 7‑wicket loss to South Africa. Batting contributions from Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman have anchored decent totals, while their bowling has been under pressure on flatter surfaces. The absence of experienced pacer Lockie Ferguson on parental leave could test their fast‑bowling depth, and the team will lean on others to fill that void.
Key players
For Canada, Navneet Dhaliwal has been their most reliable batter, scoring runs in both previous matches and showing temperament under pressure. His experience and ability to build an innings will be key if Canada is to post a competitive total. Harsh Thaker’s aggressive stroke play adds impetus to the middle order, and Saad Bin Zafar’s knack for wickets can disrupt New Zealand’s innings.
New Zealand’s success is built around dynamic top‑order batters. Tim Seifert has been in excellent form, leading his side’s scoring with aggressive play that can seize early momentum. Finn Allen’s power hitting complements Seifert, and Daryl Mitchell’s stability in the middle order balances their batting lineup. In the bowling department, James Neesham and Matt Henry will be key in controlling Canada’s scoring.
Head‑to‑head record
This match marks the first T20I meeting between Canada and New Zealand in a World Cup context. There is no previous head‑to‑head history in this tournament format, placing an emphasis on current form rather than historical rivalry.
Pitch report
The Chepauk surface in Chennai traditionally supports batting, with good pace and bounce early for stroke play and increasing assistance for spinners as the game progresses. The track typically allows teams to post or chase totals around 175‑190 if conditions remain true. Toss winners might prefer bowling first to exploit early swing and plan a chase under favorable conditions.
Probable match scenarios
If Canada wins the toss and bowls first, they will aim to restrict New Zealand to a sub‑180 score. A strong powerplay with disciplined bowling could keep them within reach, but Canada’s batting depth must respond under pressure. Conversely, if New Zealand bowls first, they will look to contain Canada in the early overs and chase with a settled top order. With seam and spin options, New Zealand can control scoring phases. In either scenario, the match momentum is likely to tilt toward New Zealand given their superior batting firepower and recent performances.
Probable XIs
Canada (c): Dilpreet Bajwa (c), Yuvraj Samra, Navneet Samra, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (wk), Harsh Thaker, Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskaran Singh, Dilon Heyliger, Kaleen Sana, Ansh Patel.
New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, James Neesham, Tim Seifert (wk), Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Finn Allen. Lockie Ferguson is unavailable for this match due to parental leave.
Live streaming and broadcast
In India, the match airs on the Star Sports Network with digital streaming on JioHotstar. In Pakistan, official telecast and streaming include PTV and Myco with digital partners like Tamasha, ARY Zapp and Tapmad. United Kingdom viewers can follow the game via Sky Sports, while Australia coverage is available through Prime Video and related broadcast partners. Global audiences can also access the event through ICC.tv where available, with additional commentary feeds in multiple languages.
Match prediction
New Zealand start as clear favourites given their stronger batting lineup and tournament experience. Canada’s performance to date suggests they will struggle to match the depth and power of the New Zealand batting order, and the Kiwis’ bowling unit should be able to contain Canada’s scoring. Expect New Zealand to impose their game plan and secure victory in this Group D encounter barring an extraordinary performance from the Canadian side.
