Afghanistan vs Canada Prediction & Match Preview – T20 World Cup 2026, 39th Match

Afghanistan are the favoured side in Chennai. Earlier in the group stage they lost to New Zealand and then went down narrowly to South Africa, a game that went down to the wire, so the signs of competitiveness are there. A captain of the quality of Rashid Khan leads a spin-heavy squad with Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad, which could suit a pitch that slows as the match goes on.

Canada have had a hard tournament. They sit at the bottom of Group D after two defeats, one of them by five wickets to the UAE. Navneet Dhaliwal and Harsh Thaker have made most of the runs, and Yuvraj Samra will be looking to turn his strong recent record into big scores. Saad Bin Zafar and Ansh Patel have taken three wickets each.

With the early overs likely to favour batters and spin becoming important later, the powerplay could shape the match. Afghanistan’s experience gives them the edge, while Canada will need early wickets and a disciplined effort to stay in contention.

Probable playing XI

Pitch report

The MA Chidambaram Stadium pitch is generally good for batting early on, with true bounce and steady pace, and T20 first-innings totals often reach 160–180 or more. It tends to slow as the match goes on, which helps spinners in the middle overs, while seamers rely on cutters and slower balls later. Dew can make bowling second harder.

Expected scores

• 1st innings: 155–170
• 2nd innings: 150–165

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