New Zealand won by 5 wickets. New Zealand faced Afghanistan in the Group D of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on 2026-02-08, and the result sent ripples through the tournament.

New Zealand, perennial overachievers of world cricket, are the most universally respected team in the sport. Under the leadership of a squad that reached the 2021 T20 World Cup final, the Black Caps c Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s cricket story is one of the sport’s most inspiring. Born in refugee camps, nurtured by passion, and powered by stars like Rashid Khan and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghan cricket has risen fro

New Zealand proved too strong on the day, securing a comprehensive victory that boosted their campaign. The Chennai crowd witnessed a performance that underlined why New Zealand were considered among the tournament favorites. For Afghanistan, it was a setback that would require soul-searching and tactical adjustments for their remaining matches.

MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, with a capacity of 50,000, provided a fitting stage for this Group D encounter. The ground has hosted some of cricket’s most memorable moments, and the Chennai faithful brought the passion and noise that make Indian and Sri Lankan cricket grounds among the most atmospheric in the world.

For fans who caught this match live, the 11:00 IST start time converted to 05:30 GMT for viewers in London, 00:30 EST for the US East Coast, and 16:30 AEDT for Australian fans in Sydney. Check India time for conversions to your local timezone.

The 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, hosted across India and Sri Lanka, featured 20 teams competing in 55 matches from February 7 to March 8, 2026. India won the tournament, defeating New Zealand in the final at Ahmedabad. Every match in this campaign contributed to one of the most compelling T20 World Cups in history.

For timezone conversions, check Chennai time, New Zealand time, and Afghanistan time.