The group of death moves to the MA Chidambaram Stadium as New Zealand prepares to face a wildcard opponent in the United Arab Emirates. While the Black Caps are riding high after a clinical revenge win over Afghanistan, they now face a team they have only played once in the last three years; a match they famously lost.
Sunil Gavaskar and Ian Smith noted that the Chennai track looks significantly different from the traditional "Chepauk turner," featuring a light covering of grass and encouraging bounce.
Dimensions: One side of the square boundary is a tiny 60 metres, while the other is 73 metres. Captains will need to be surgical with their field placements, particularly for the spinners.
Total: Gavaskar predicted that on this "hard, true pitch," UAE should aim for 160–180, while suggesting New Zealand could have easily crossed 200 had they batted first.
Decision: Muhammad Waseem opted to set a target, citing a desire to "show the world the abilities the boys have" in the T20 format.
New Zealand's 15-man squad is largely unfamiliar with the UAE roster, with only six players having faced them before. To bridge the gap, the Black Caps are relying on "insider intel"
Mark Chapman: Frequently faced UAE during his international tenure with Hong Kong.
Lockie Ferguson: Familiar with the UAE local stars through his role as captain of the Desert Vipers in the ILT20.
It comes down to adaptability. We have faced enough bowlers over our time to understand general movements... and been around the franchise scene quite a bit.Glenn Phillips, New Zealand Batter
| Player | Team | Why Watch? |
|---|---|---|
| Muhammad Waseem | UAE | Needs just 16 sixes to topple Rohit Sharma's all-time T20I six-hitting record. |
| Rachin Ravindra | NZ | Seeking redemption after a golden duck in the opener and a recent bout with illness. |
| Jacob Duffy | NZ | Has 23 Powerplay wickets since the last World Cup—second only to Richard Ngarava globally. |
| Haider Ali | UAE | Boasts a staggering Powerplay economy of 5.93 in the ILT20; key to stifling the Kiwis early. |
New Zealand: Michael Bracewell remains out with a calf injury; Jimmy Neesham retains his spot. Finn Allen starts but is struggling with a shoulder niggle that limits his fielding range.
UAE: Have lost Muhammad Zohaib to a last-minute disciplinary send-home. Sohaib Khan steps into the XI to fill the void at No. 3.