Fans will watch New Zealand confront Canada in the thirty-first match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, on 17th February at 11:00 AM IST.
Get the best NZ vs CAN Dream11 prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and match insights for the 31st match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Expert analysis and more.
NZ vs CAN Match Preview:
A fresh rivalry will begin in Chennai when New Zealand face Canada for the first time in T20Is in the thirty-first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Moreover, this Group D contest will start at 11:00 AM IST, and New Zealand will aim to bounce back quickly after their recent defeat. Meanwhile, Canada will step into a high-pressure challenge as they search for their first points. The Chepauk pitch usually supports spinners in morning conditions due to its grip and turn. Therefore, New Zealand will likely use their slow-bowling options to control the tempo and put Canada under early pressure.
Your daily dose of cricket!
New Zealand currently hold second place in the Group D points table with four points from three matches. In contrast, Canada remain at the bottom in fifth position with zero points, which increases the urgency for them. Furthermore, New Zealand come into this match after suffering a seven-wicket defeat against South Africa in Ahmedabad, where they failed to defend a competitive score. On the other hand, Canada arrive in Chennai after losing a close five-wicket contest against the UAE, where they conceded the match in the final over. Consequently, New Zealand will look to regain momentum, while Canada must produce a near-perfect performance to stay alive.
Mark Chapman fought hard for New Zealand in the last match by smashing 48 off 26 balls, while Daryl Mitchell added stability with 32. However, their bowlers could not stop South Africa from chasing successfully. Meanwhile, Canada received a strong effort from Harsh Thaker, who scored 50 off 41 balls to push the team to 150. Additionally, Saad Bin Zafar impressed with figures of 3 for 14, yet the bowlers still failed to defend the total. Since these teams have never played each other in T20Is, the contest carries uncertainty. Still, New Zealand possess more depth, and therefore they will enter as clear favourites in Chennai.
NZ vs CAN Head-to-Head Record:
|
Teams |
Matches Won |
|
New Zealand |
0 |
|
Canada |
0 |
NZ vs CAN Weather & Pitch Report:
|
Temperature |
29°C |
|
Weather Forecast |
Sunny |
|
Pitch Behaviour |
Balanced |
|
Best Suited To |
Spinners |
|
Average 1st innings score |
156 |
Record of chasing teams:
NZ vs CAN Playing 11s (Predicted):
New Zealand Playing 11:
1) Finn Allen
2) Tim Seifert
3) Rachin Ravindra
4) Glenn Phillips
5) Mark Chapman
6) Daryl Mitchell
7) Mitchell Santner
8) James Neesham
9) Matt Henry
10) Lockie Ferguson
11) Jacob Duffy
Canada Playing 11:
1) Yuvraj Samra
2) Dilpreet Bajwa
3) Navneet Dhaliwal
4) Nicholas Kirton
5) Shreyas Movva
6) Harsh Thaker
7) Saad Bin Zafar
8) Jaskaran Singh
9) Dilon Heyliger
10) Kaleem Sana
11) Ansh Patel
Hot Picks for NZ vs CAN Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:
Captaincy Picks:
|
Tim Seifert – Showcasing fearless intent at the top for New Zealand, this aggressive opener has hammered 167 runs in the tournament so far with fluent strokeplay. |
|
Finn Allen – Bringing explosive right-handed firepower for New Zealand, he has smashed 116 runs in this tournament so far while consistently attacking the bowling from the start. |
Top Picks:
|
Harsh Thaker – Showcasing impressive all-round quality for Canada, the right-handed batter and off-break bowler has smacked 84 runs in this tournament so far with composed and impactful performances. |
|
Glenn Phillips – Bringing valuable versatility for New Zealand, the right-handed batter and off-break bowler has marked 43 runs and taken 1 wicket in this tournament so far with sharp all-round contributions. |
Budget Picks:
|
Nicholas Kirton – A stylish left-handed batter from Canada, he also adds valuable right-arm off-break bowling, offering excellent all-round depth to the side. |
|
Dilpreet Bajwa – Providing strong starts for Canada, the right-handed opening batter plays with confidence and intent, setting an excellent platform at the top of the order. |
NZ vs CAN ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Captain and Vice-captain Choices:
|
Captain |
Tim Seifert & Finn Allen |
|
Vice-Captain |
Glenn Phillips & Harsh Thaker |
NZ vs CAN Dream11 Prediction Team 1:
- Keeper – Tim Seifert ©, Finn Allen
- Batters – Navneet Dhaliwal, Rachin Ravindra
- All-rounders – Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips (vc), Harsh Thaker, Saad Bin Zafar
- Bowlers – Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Ansh Patel
NZ vs CAN Dream11 Prediction Team 2:
- Keeper – Tim Seifert, Finn Allen ©
- Batters – Mark Chapman, Navneet Dhaliwal, Rachin Ravindra
- All-rounders – James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Harsh Thaker (vc), Saad Bin Zafar
- Bowlers – Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry
NZ vs CAN Dream11 Prediction Today Match 31 ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Players to Avoid:
|
Players |
Dream11 Credits |
Dream11 Points (Last match) |
|
Cole McConchie |
7.0 credits |
NA |
|
Ravinder Singh |
7.0 credits |
NA |
NZ vs CAN Dream11 Prediction Today Match 31 ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Expert Advice:
|
SL Captaincy Choice |
Tim Seifert |
|
GL Captaincy Choice |
Finn Allen |
|
Punt Picks |
Mark Chapman and James Neesham |
|
Dream11 Combination |
2-2-4-3 |
NZ vs CAN Match Winner Prediction:
Considering the depth and quality of the squad, New Zealand will be expected to secure victory in this match.
