New Zealand is gearing up to face South Africa in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026, set to take place on March 4 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. Before the crucial match, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner expressed admiration for the South African team.
“South Africa is looking strong, as evidenced by their performance, and like us, they find themselves at a pivotal moment. It’s a knockout scenario now, just like for India and England in the second semi-final on Thursday,” Santner noted.
Acknowledging that the ‘Black Caps’ have often been seen as underdogs, Santner said, “We’ve grown accustomed to this label. Whether you call us underdogs or not, our goal has always been to reach this stage of the tournament. We believe in our ability to adapt quickly to the challenges ahead. In this knockout format, it boils down to who shows up on the day.”
The New Zealand captain emphasized the need to limit South Africa to around 180 runs, recognizing their powerful middle-order batting.
“There are no secrets regarding South Africa’s strengths, and they are likely aware of ours too. Success will depend on how quickly we can adjust. Their middle order is formidable, not just the top order. Keeping them to 180 would be ideal compared to a score of 220, but we will see how it unfolds. They’ve covered all bases, which is why they remain undefeated in this tournament,” he added.
New Zealand’s squad for the tournament includes: James Neesham, Devon Conway (WK), Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Mitchell Santner (C), Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Seifert (WK), Glenn Phillips, Finn Allen, and Rachin Ravindra.
(With PTI Inputs)
