The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad braces for a heavyweight collision as two undefeated title contenders New Zealand and South Africa lock horns in what promises to be the most compelling contest of the group stage. Both sides enter with perfect records, but their journeys couldn’t be more different. New Zealand have been ruthless, dismantling opponents with a flawless 10-wicket demolition of the UAE followed by a composed chase against Afghanistan. South Africa, while unbeaten, have looked vulnerable—their double-super-over escape against Afghanistan exposed middle-order fragility and discipline issues with the ball. Recent history heavily favors the Kiwis, who whitewashed the Proteas 3-0 in their last T20I series. With very little separating these powerhouses on paper, the margins will be razor-thin, and the team that holds its nerve in clutch moments will seize control of the group.
New Zealand vs South Africa Win Probability
RCBW vs DCW Batting Tips
NZ vs SA, Group D T20 World Cup 2026 24th Match Details
| Match | ICC T20 World Cup 2026, 24th Match, Group D |
| Date | Saturday, February 14, 2026 |
| Time | 07:00 PM (IST) |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Live Streaming (TV) | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming (Mobile) | JioHotstar |
NZ vs SA Team Form – Who Will Win Today’s Match?
New Zealand
New Zealand are peaking at the perfect moment (L, L, W, W). Their key strength is an unstoppable opening pair. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen both scored unbeaten 80s in a record 175-run partnership against the UAE, smashing 78/0 in the powerplay. The batting depth is frightening; Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, and Mitchell Santner provide explosive finishing power. The bowling unit is composed and wicket-taking, with Matt Henry leading impressively and the supporting cast of Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy, and Santner all contributing. Their psychological edge is immense after whitewashing this opponent 3-0 in their last meeting.
South Africa
South Africa’s form reads (W, W, W, W, L), but their performances have been far from convincing. The top order, led by Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton, has fired. However, the middle order remains a significant concern, struggling to accelerate in the middle-to-death overs. Bowling is a “tale of two halves”—Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj were superb against Afghanistan, but spearhead Kagiso Rabada struggled with discipline issues (wides/no-balls). Their realistic objective is to target New Zealand’s relatively inexperienced bowling support acts and hope their power hitters fire collectively.
NZ vs SA Probable Playing XI
New Zealand Probable XI-
Tim Seifert (WK), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.
South Africa Probable XI-
Aiden Markram (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
NZ vs SA Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
| Total Match Played | 17 |
| NZ Won | 06 |
| SA Won | 11 |
| Draw/No Result | 00 |
NZ vs SA Pitch Report
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad offers significant seam movement with the new ball, testing openers early. However, once the ball softens, stroke-making becomes easier. As the match progresses, the track may slow slightly, bringing spinners into play during the middle overs. A total of 180+ is par given the firepower in both camps. The surface is expected to remain true throughout.
NZ vs SA Weather Report
Conditions will be clear and dry with no rain expected. Humidity will be high, which may challenge bowlers in their second spells. The evening dew factor is expected to play a significant role in the second innings, heavily influencing the toss decision.
NZ vs SA Toss Prediction
The captain winning the toss will almost certainly choose to bowl first. In Ahmedabad, the pitch tends to get better for batting under lights, and the dew factor makes gripping the ball difficult for bowlers in the second innings. Chasing a known target is the clear, data-backed preference.
NZ vs SA Match Prediction
This is a genuine 50-50 contest between two heavyweight unbeaten sides, but the Black Caps hold subtle but significant advantages across multiple departments. Their opening pair is in transcendent form, their bowling unit is more disciplined, and they have already proven they can dominate this exact South African lineup with a 3-0 whitewash. South Africa’s middle-order fragility and Rabada’s recent discipline issues are vulnerabilities New Zealand are perfectly equipped to exploit. While the Proteas have the firepower to win on their day, New Zealand’s composure, balance, and recent head-to-head dominance make them the smarter pick especially at attractive underdog odds.
NZ vs SA Dream11 Team
- Wicketkeeper: Quinton de Kock, Tim Seifert
- Batters: Finn Allen, Ryan Rickelton, Glenn Phillips
- All-rounders: Mitchell Santner, Aiden Markram, Daryl Mitchell
- Bowlers: Matt Henry, Lungi Ngidi, Lockie Ferguson
Captain (C) Pick: Tim Seifert, Quinton de Kock.
Vice-Captain (VC) Pick: Finn Allen, Lungi Ngidi .
