The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is just a month away, and New Zealand have officially declared their intent with a squad built for the turning tracks of India and Sri Lanka. On January 7, 2026, New Zealand Cricket announced a 15-member unit that balances veteran savvy with the raw, record-breaking momentum of their newest star. The tournament, set to run from February 7 to March 8, will see the Black Caps navigate a challenging Group D that includes South Africa and Afghanistan. With a white-ball series in India scheduled for later this month as a final tune-up, the Kiwis are wasting no time in acclimating to the subcontinent. A

First-ever senior World Cup call-up for Jacob Duffy

The headline of the New Zealand selection is the inclusion of 31-year-old pacer Jacob Duffy, who earned his first-ever senior World Cup call-up following a historic 2025. Duffy transformed into a global bowling powerhouse over the last year, claiming a staggering 81 international wickets across all formats at a clinical average of 17. In a moment that etched his name into folklore, he surpassed Sir Richard Hadlee’s 40-year-old national record of 79 wickets in a calendar year during the December Test series against the West Indies. This prolific form saw him skyrocket to second place in the ICC T20I bowling rankings, making him the highest-ranked bowler in a squad that collectively boasts over 1,000 T20I caps.

His meteoric rise has also translated into a massive payday in the franchise circuit. During the IPL 2026 auction in December, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured Duffy for ₹2 crore, with Director of Cricket Mo Bobat labeling the signing a ‘bargain’ and essential injury cover. At the World Cup, Duffy will be the lone debutant in an otherwise seasoned pace battery featuring Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, and Adam Milne, while Kyle Jamieson travels as the pace reserve.

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New Zealand’s spin-heavy strategy under Mitchell Santner and Group D ambitions

Captain Mitchell Santner will lead a side specifically engineered for subcontinental conditions, emphasizing spin depth as the team’s core pillar. Santner, entering his ninth senior ICC tournament, will anchor a slow-bowling contingent that includes specialist Ish Sodhi, both of whom famously debuted at the 2016 World Cup in India. The squad is further bolstered by multi-skilled all-rounders Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra, ensuring that New Zealand can field up to four or five spin options if required. In the batting department, the explosive Finn Allen and Tim Seifert (fresh off a BBL century for the Melbourne Renegades) provide the necessary firepower at the top.

New Zealand finds themselves in a high-stakes Group D, beginning its campaign on February 8 against a dangerous Afghanistan side in Chennai. The schedule poses a grueling test of adaptability:

• Feb 8: vs Afghanistan (Chennai)
• Feb 10: vs UAE (Chennai)
• Feb 14: vs South Africa (Ahmedabad)
• Feb 17: vs Canada (Chennai)

Despite current fitness concerns for Santner (adductor) and Ferguson (calf), the medical team expects a full-strength side by the opener. Notably, the team has also planned for short-term paternity leave for Ferguson and Henry, showing a modern, player-first approach to a high-pressure global campaign.

New Zealand ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 15-member squad

Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi

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