New Zealand strongest playing 11 for ICC T20 World Cup 2024

New Zealand will start their campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on June 7 against Afghanistan.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is all set to get underway on June 1. This tournament will be even bigger, as a total of 20 teams will take part in it. This competition will be co-hosted by the USA and West Indies. New Zealand became the first nation to announce its squad for the upcoming mega event.

The squad had all the veterans returning, and it will be an experienced side that will represent the Black Caps. Kane Williamson will be back as captain, and Devon Conway, who has missed the IPL 2024 due to injury, is also likely to be the opener. Here we will talk about their best possible XI for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Kiwis will will play their first game on June 7 against Afghanistan.

New Zealand strongest playing 11 for ICC T20 World Cup 2024

1. Finn Allen

Finn Allen had a brilliant last six months with the bat for the Black Caps. Especially, his powergame in the shortest format is pretty impressive. He scored the most runs in the five-match series against Pakistan in January. Allen scored 275 runs at a destructive strike rate of 195.03 with one century and one fifty. He will be the first-choice opener.

2. Devon Conway (wk)

There will be a race between Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, but Conway is likely to get an edge because of his experience and ability to keep wickets. He is one of their most consistent batters across formats and has a phenomenal T20I record. Conway is currently recovering from his thumb injury and is likely to return for New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

3. Kane Williamson (c)

You want your best batter at No. 3, who can bat according to the situation, whether it is about scoring quickly or holding one end. And who better than Kane Williamson can do it? He will be leading the Kiwis in the mega event and will be one key player in this batting order who can take the game away at no. 3.

4. Daryl Mitchell

Daryl Mitchell has been New Zealand’s best No. 4 across formats in the last couple of years and has scored runs. He is going through a decent IPL 2024 for Chennai Super Kings as well. His last international T20I assignment was against Pakistan in January, where he scored 158 runs at an average and strike rate of 52.66 and 183.72 respectively.

5. Mark Chapman

Mark Chapman was part of New Zealand’s recently concluded five-match T20I series against Pakistan. He smashed a brilliant 42-ball 81 in the third game to help his team win. Though he missed out in the next two matches, he is one of their key batters who is given the role of the finisher in the white-ball formats.

6. Glenn Phillips

You can’t keep Glenn Phillips away from action at any stage of the game. He is a backup keeper who bowls part-time spin, takes wickets, and takes incredible catches on the field. When it comes to batting, he is one of the most destructive Kiwi batters in the modern era. He is a complete package, and it is not possible to sit him out because his off-spin will also be useful in the pitches in the USA and West Indies.

7. James Neesham

With his experience of playing at the international level and franchise cricket across the world, James Neesham becomes an important part of the team. His powerhitting at No. 7 always gives New Zealand a few extra runs in the end, but his medium pace can be very effective on the slow pitches in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. So he will be the first-choice all-rounder in the playing XI.

8. Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner is as important as anyone on this team. He is their premier spinner who can bowl in the powerplay. He will be very effective on the pitches used in West Indies and USA, and he is also in good form. Adding to that, he is a very useful all-rounder who can play important knocks in pressure situations.

9. Ish Sodhi

The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will take place in the USA and West Indies which is why New Zealand are likely to go with two spinners in the playing XI, which will give Ish Sodhi a chance. Sodhi is the leg-spinner who comes with wicket-taking ability, and he can utilise the conditions to be effective. Especially in the group stages, where non-test-playing nations have not faced him, he can be very effective.

10. Trent Boult

Although Trent Boult has been out of NZ central contracts, he has been part of New Zealand squad in the ICC tournaments and he will be leading their pace attack in the upcoming T20 World Cup as well. The left-arm pacer is a big hurdle for the top-order batters because he has a knack for picking up wickets with the new ball. That’s what he is also doing for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2024 as well.

11. Tim Southee

You can’t bench a bowler who has taken most wickets in the T20 internationals, and that’s why Tim Southee will be the partner of Boult with the new ball. Southee has vast experience and has been part of the team for one and a half decade. He was the highest wicket-taker against Pakistan in T20I series earlier this year and always gives his team wickets when required.

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