The UAE will play against New Zealand in their first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday, February 10. New Zealand aims for their second win in the tournament, while the UAE hopes for a strong start.
UAE
The UAE has talented players ready to perform, but facing New Zealand will be a challenge. Led by Muhammad Waseem, the team appears balanced with a mix of experience and youth. Key batters include Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Muhammad Zohaib, Harshit Kaushik, and Mayank Kumar. Junaid Siddiqui and Muhammad Arfan will handle the bowling duties.
New Zealand
After struggling against India in a recent T20I series, New Zealand bounced back by defeating Afghanistan in their World Cup opener. They chased down a target of 183 runs in just 17.5 overs. Tim Seifert scored an impressive 65 runs from 42 balls, while Glenn Phillips contributed 42 runs off 25 balls. The bowlers excelled, limiting Afghanistan to 182 runs, with Lockie Ferguson taking two wickets for 40 runs in four overs.
UAE vs NZ Match Details
| UAE vs NZ T20I WC Match Details | |
| Match | UAE vs New Zealand 11th T20I Match |
| Date and Time | Tuesday, February 10; 3:00 p.m. IST |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Broadcasting and live streaming | TV-Star Sports Network, Live Stream-JioHotstar |
UAE vs NZ T20 WC Pitch Report
The Chennai pitch is expected to favor batters initially, with good pace and bounce. As the match continues, spinners may gain an advantage. The first innings score is likely to be around 170.
UAE vs NZ T20 WC Weather Report
The forecast for Chennai is warm and humid, with clear skies expected. Temperatures will be around 27-32 °C during the game.
UAE vs NZ Head-to-Head Records
| UAE vs NZ Head-to-Head (in T20s) | |
| Matches Played | 3 |
| Won by UAE | 1 |
| Won by New Zealand | 2 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
UAE vs NZ Probable XI
- UAE: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (c), Muhammad Zohaib, Alishan Sharafu, Harshit Kaushik, Mayank Kumar, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah
- New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, James Neesham, Tim Seifert (wk), Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Ish Sodhi, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (c), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Michael Bracewell
Players To Watch Out For in the UAE vs NZ Match
- Muhammad Waseem | UAE: Waseem is an experienced player with a strong track record, having scored 3,248 runs, including three centuries and 25 half-centuries in 94 T20I innings.
- Tim Seifert | NZ: Seifert is an aggressive player and recently scored 65 runs against Afghanistan. His performance will be crucial for New Zealand.
UAE vs NZ Toss Prediction
Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue
- In the last four T20 matches at this venue, the winning team has chosen to bowl first three times and bat first once.
Advantages of Bowling First on This Pitch
- Out of the four T20I matches held here, teams batting first have won once, while teams bowling first have won three times.
UAE vs NZ Today’s Match Scenario
Scenario 1
- Toss Winner: UAE (opts to bowl first)
- Power-Play Score: 40-45
- NZ Total: 180-190
- Match Winner: New Zealand
Scenario 2
- Toss Winner: NZ (opts to bowl first)
- Power-Play Score: 40-42
- UAE Total: 150-160
- Match Winner: New Zealand
Who Will Win Today’s UAE vs NZ T20 World Cup Match?
New Zealand is favored to win, given their strong players and experience in T20 formats. The UAE lacks exposure against top teams, making it a challenge for them.
