Kolkata, March 4 (). New Zealand is scheduled to face South Africa in the first semi-final match of the T20 World Cup 2026 on March 4. Before the semi-final match, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has said that the Eden Gardens pitch looks easy for batting, but the role of spin bowlers will still be important. New Zealand has to face South Africa in the semi-finals, this match will be hosted by the Eden Gardens ground.
The New Zealand team has reached Kolkata directly from Sri Lanka. Santner admitted that it would have been better if the team had got an extra day’s rest, but the players have had a good practice session and all are fully prepared for the match. He said that the conditions in Sri Lanka’s Colombo and Kolkata are different, but at this level all the teams have played a lot of cricket, so it is important to adapt quickly.
Santner also said that many players of his team have played IPL and bilateral series in India, due to which they have experience of the conditions here. However, he made it clear that experience alone is not enough, rather it is more important to adapt oneself to the conditions on the day of the match.
He said that reaching the semi-finals means that the team in front is also strong. South Africa is performing brilliantly in this tournament, so the competition will be tough. Talking about the pitch, Santner said that after watching the last match, the wicket appeared flat, which means it is helpful for the batsmen. Still there will be a role for the spinners. Also, fast bowlers will also have to bowl with the correct line-length. The dimensions of the field (size of the boundary) will also play a big role in the strategy.
Regarding this match being played on the day of Holi, Santner said that the atmosphere of festivals in India is special and his team would also like to add more colors to this festival of colors by performing well on this day. Overall, the New Zealand team is full of confidence and is fully prepared to win the semi-finals against South Africa.
—
SM/DKP
