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Battle-hardened Blackcaps ready to launch T20 World Cup campaign
Sport Nation • February 4th, 2026 5:00 am
Finn Allen's sixth T20I half-century (22 balls) was the fastest by any New Zealander against India | Photo: BCCI
The Blackcaps are entering the final countdown until their bid to match their female counterparts and bring a T20 World Cup back to New Zealand.
The team begin their campaign against Afghanistan in Chennai on February 8 at the very hospitable start time of 6pm (NZT).
As far as warm-ups go, the New Zealanders could scarcely have asked for more, entering the tournament battle-hardened from their five-match tilt against the host nation - and title favourites - India.
While they were on the wrong side of the ledger in a 4-1 series loss, head coach Rob Walter's team learned plenty about negotiating the conditions they'll be facing on the subcontinent over the next month, learning some valuable lessons in defeat.
The build-up is in stark contrast to the lead-in to the 2024 edition in the US and Caribbean, where their lack of any warm-up fixtures was brutally exposed, crashing out in the group stage.
"I think most importantly, it was exposure to a quality team who put us under pressure in different aspects of our game in the conditions that we'll be playing the World Cup," Walter said.
"From that point of view, it is an excellent run out against a quality opposition and get familiar with the conditions, get an understanding of what the different options are with bat and ball, and really to ready ourselves for the start of the World Cup."
Blackcaps head coach Rob Walter on facing the India T20 machine | Millsy & Guy
The series also allowed Walter to reintegrate two of his most lethal weapons in strike bowler Lockie Ferguson and Finn Allen, allowing the duo to get some valuable time at their respective creases alongside their compatriots.
Ferguson returned for his first T20 since November 2024 in the fifth and final match against India, making a handy contribution of 2/43 through his three overs.
Meanwhile in the same fixture, Allen - straight from his magnificent Big Bash-winning campaign with the Perth Scorchers - picked up where he left off in Australia, slamming 80 from just 38 balls in a knock that included 8 fours and 6 sixes.
"It's easy to look at a scorecard and know that Finn played exceptionally well," Walters noted. "It was wonderful to see him at the top of the water batting the way that he did.
"But probably what doesn't get explained adequately is obviously Lockie and the way he bowled, particularly in his first two overs.
"He's worked incredibly hard to get himself ready for the World Cup. He said he was going to ease into it, but he was bowling 145km/h, so if that's him easing in, I'm looking forward to seeing what's to come.
"It's always great to see someone with extra pace like that, and the impact that it had on the start of the game in particular, so wonderful to have him back with a fern on his chest."
In another big boost for the Kiwis, Michael Bracewell has recovered from the calf injury which ruled him out of the final two matches against India.
The spinning allrounder will be available for the team's warm-up clash with the USA on Friday night ahead of Sunday's opener.
Tom Bruce's T20 World Cup shock with Scotland | Sport Nation Mornings
