New Zealand v Canada: Santner ruled out with 'dodgy burger' as Kiwis chase Super 8s
New Zealand made a late change ahead of their crucial Group D T20 World Cup fixture with Canada on Tuesday (ET), with regular skipper Mitchell Santner ruled out after a bout of food-related illness. Stand-in captain Daryl Mitchell led the side at the toss as New Zealand look to book a place in the Super 8s.
Late shuffle as Santner and Ferguson unavailable
At the toss on Tuesday (ET) New Zealand confirmed a double adjustment to their XI. Santner, the team's usual captain and left-arm spin all-rounder, was absent after feeling unwell following a meal the night before. Daryl Mitchell relayed the team's hope that Santner would recover quickly, saying the player had a stomach upset and the expectation was he could be fit within 24 hours. Cole McConchie came into the playing eleven as a like-for-like replacement.
New Zealand were also without pace spearhead Lockie Ferguson, who travelled home for the birth of his first child. Ferguson is expected to rejoin the campaign during the Super 8s stage. In his place the selectors brought in Kyle Jamieson, balancing the attack with his height and bounce. The final XI for New Zealand read: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell (captain), Cole McConchie, James Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy.
What’s at stake in Chennai
The match carries major consequence for both teams. New Zealand began the tournament with wins over Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates before a setback against South Africa; a third victory in Group D would guarantee their progression to the Super 8s alongside established qualifiers. Canada, meanwhile, sits at the foot of the group after defeats to the United Arab Emirates and South Africa and will be eliminated if they lose to New Zealand.
Canada elected to bat after winning the toss. The visitors have never met New Zealand in a T20 international, though their one-day international history shows New Zealand unbeaten in three prior encounters. Canada selected: Yuvraj Samra, Dilpreet Bajwa (captain), Navneet Dhaliwal, Harsh Thaker, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva, Saad Bin Zafar, Shivam Sharma, Dilon Heyliger, Jaskaran Singh, Ansh Patel.
Broader tournament implications and the road ahead
Beyond this fixture, several group outcomes remain in flux and other matches scheduled for Tuesday (ET) could reshape the first-round eliminations. A win for Zimbabwe in their game would have ripple effects for teams in other groups, potentially ending the campaign early for past champions. For New Zealand, avoiding a stumble here is crucial to retain momentum and keep selection options open, particularly if Santner recovers in time to contribute either later in the group or in the Super 8s.
The team balance in Chennai will be watched closely: McConchie provides left-arm pace variation and spin options in the lower middle order, while Jamieson’s extra height offers a different dimension to the pace attack without Ferguson. Canada, chasing an upset, will rely on their batting depth and disciplined bowling to challenge a New Zealand side heavy with international experience.
With qualification on the line and squad availability still in flux, the match presents both an opportunity and a test for New Zealand’s depth. If Santner recovers as hoped, the Kiwis could regain a key spin-batting option for the knockout stage; if not, bench players will have the platform to stake their claim on a major tournament stage.
