Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
Blackcaps squad confirmed for T20 World Cup
Sport Nation • January 7th, 2026 10:00 am
Jacob Duffy | Photo: Photosport
Captain Mitchell Santner will lead an experienced 15-strong squad at next month's T20 World Cup in India & Sri Lanka.
The only World Cup first-timer among the collective 1064 T20 caps is seamer Jacob Duffy, whose searing form has seen him rise to second in the ICC T20 bowler rankings.
The 31-year-old finished 2025 with a total 81 international wickets at an average of 17 from 36 matches, breaking Sir Richard Hadlee’s 40-year record of 79.
The rest of the squad has a familiar feel with Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry and Adam Milne the pace-bowlers, and Jimmy Neesham the all-rounder.
In addition to Santner, there are four other spin options with the team's second-highest T20 wicket-taker Ish Sodhi the sole specialist, alongside all-rounders Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra.
Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell and Tim Seifert are the specialist batters.
Photo: Kerry Marshall/Photosport
Fresh off an impressive Big Bash League campaign with the Melbourne Renegades - which included a jaw-dropping 102 off 56 balls in the competition opener - Seifert will don the wicketkeeping gloves for the tournament.
The most notable omission is Kyle Jamieson, who will travel with the squad as the pace-bowling reserve.
Ferguson and Henry's partners are due to give birth during the tournament, meaning it is likely they will be granted short-term paternity leave.
Allen (finger/hamstring), Chapman (ankle), Ferguson (calf), Henry (calf), and Santner (adductor) are still undergoing respective return-to-play plans and are currently on track to be fit for the tournament.
“World Cups are special and there’s few better places to play one than in India, which is very much the heartbeat of the modern game," said coach Rob Walter.
“I’m really happy with the skills and experience of this squad and I think we have a group which can make New Zealand proud.
“We’ve got plenty of power and skill in the batting, quality bowlers who can adapt to conditions, plus five all-rounders who all bring something slightly different.
“This is an experienced group and the players are no strangers to playing in the sub-continent, which will be valuable."
The Blackcaps have been assigned to Group D alongside Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa and the UAE, with their opening match taking place on February 8 in Chennai against Afghanistan.
Blackcaps T20 World Cup squad:
Mitchell Santner (capt.), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
