“Not playing Noor in Chennai where he plays IPL” - Aakash Chopra on what cost Afghanistan their T20 World cup 2026 match against New Zealand

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has revealed the reason behind Afghanistan’s loss to New Zealand in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener in Chennai on February 8, 2026.

On Sunday, February 8, New Zealand defeated Afghanistan by five wickets in a T20 World Cup 2026 Group D match played in Chennai. With 13 balls remaining, the Kiwis managed to chase down a target of 183 runs.

According to Aakash Chopra, Afghanistan may lose the match since they chose not to use Noor Ahmad against New Zealand. He pointed out that while Afghanistan batted effectively and presented New Zealand with a difficult goal, their bowling lacked the necessary force.

He further highlighted that the Afghanistan-New Zealand game was a virtual must-win game for both sides. He also stated that Rashid Khan and co. lost the game by benching Noor Ahmad, who plays for Chennai Super Kings in IPL, at the same venue in Chennai.

"The day game was between New Zealand and Afghanistan on the Chennai ground, a match that you must not lose. If you are New Zealand, please don't, because this team eliminated you last time. I wasn't sure how Afghanistan would do in batting. They did alright in batting, but it's the bowling. The sharpness was not seen in the bowling. They didn't play Noor. They said that it didn't seem like the cracks would be trouble. Not playing Noor on the Chennai ground where he plays the IPL proved a little too costly," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Afghanistan fielded three spinners and as many seamers in Sunday's match. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2/31), Rashid Khan (1/36), and Mohammad Nabi (1/18) each took four wickets, although Azmatullah Omarzai (1/40) was the only seamer to claim a wicket.

Aakash Chopra praises Afghanistan's batting, saying they posted a total that pushed New Zealand

Afghanistan had amassed a formidable score and had taken two early wickets, according to Aakash Chopra, before Tim Seifert (65 off 42), Glenn Phillips (42 off 25), Mark Chapman (28 off 17), and Daryl Mitchell (25* off 14) helped New Zealand cross the finish line.

In conclusion, the former cricket player turned broadcaster predicted that a loss to South Africa will exclude Afghanistan from the 2026 T20 World Cup.

"Afghanistan batted first, and they scored a lot of runs. There was a flourish as well, and they reached a total from where they pushed New Zealand. Mujeeb Ur Rahman had picked up two wickets in two balls. Tim Seifert played a good knock, Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips scored crucial runs, Daryl Mitchell was present at the end, and they won," he said.

"New Zealand's next (third) match is against South Africa. So that will be an important game. Afghanistan is slightly now on a banana skin. If they don't beat South Africa, then that's it; Afghanistan's story will be finished," Chopra added.

Afghanistan will next face South Africa in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, February 11. After that match, they will further face the United Arab Emirates and Canada in Delhi and Chennai, respectively.

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