New Zealand vs Canada Prediction & Match Preview – T20 World Cup 2026, 31st Match
Match summary
New Zealand take on Canada at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on 17 February 2026. Our preview covers form, key players, pitch and weather.
Match details
| Match | New Zealand vs Canada, 31st Match |
|---|---|
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | 17 Feb 2026 |
| Start time | 5:30 am GMT / 11:00 am local |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | New Zealand |
| Toss pick | New Zealand |
Matches in this series
Match preview
New Zealand opened with two wins but were given a reality check by South Africa, who chased 176 in 17.1 overs to win by seven wickets. They will want to bounce back and secure a Super 8 place. Tim Seifert has 167 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 180 and Finn Allen is striking at 168. Mark Chapman made 48 off 26 against South Africa, Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell add solidity, and James Neesham and Mitchell Santner give depth at the end.
Jacob Duffy and Matt Henry lead the new-ball attack. Lockie Ferguson is missing for personal reasons, and Kyle Jamieson is expected to replace him. Santner’s left-arm spin could matter if the pitch grips.
Canada are bottom of Group D after two comfortable defeats, including a five-wicket loss to the UAE. They are mathematically still in the race but would need big wins over New Zealand and Afghanistan. Navneet Dhaliwal has 98 runs in two innings and Harsh Thaker 83, but no other batter has passed 40. Yuvraj Samra has yet to fire here, though he has 328 runs in 10 recent matches. Saad Bin Zafar has three wickets at 7.42 an over and Ansh Patel three, but Canada have lacked wickets in clusters.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium surface 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 slows as the game goes on, which helps spinners in the middle overs, and seamers lean on cutters and slower balls later. Dew should be minimal for a morning start.
A hot and slightly humid late morning is expected in Chennai, with temperatures of around 31–32 °C and mostly clear to hazy skies. No rain is expected, and humidity is moderate to high.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 160–175 | – |
| Second innings | 145–160 | – |
New Zealand
New Zealand’s explosive top order and balanced attack should be too strong for a Canada side that has lost both matches comfortably.
Toss pick: New Zealand
FAQ
Who is favoured in New Zealand vs Canada?
Our preview picks New Zealand, who have far greater batting and bowling strength.
How did New Zealand lose their last game?
South Africa chased 176 in 17.1 overs to win by seven wickets, New Zealand’s first defeat of the tournament.
Where are Canada in the group?
They are bottom of Group D after two defeats, including one by five wickets to the UAE.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Line-ups not available yet.