🏏 Match Details
- Match: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – 46th Match, Super 8 Group 2
- Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM Local / 7:00 PM IST (1:30 PM GMT)
- Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium
- Live Telecast: Star Sports Network
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar
🔄 Probable Playing XI
New Zealand Probable XI:
Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson
Sri Lanka Probable XI:
Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera
🌍 Pitch & Conditions
The R. Premadasa Stadium pitch generally offers a fair balance between bat and ball under night lights. Pacers can extract movement early on, while spinners often exert influence in the middle overs as the surface grips and slows slightly.
A total of 165–180 is usually competitive here, especially in Super 8 pressure games.
🌦 Weather Outlook
Colombo conditions in late February are typically warm and humid, with minimal rain interruptions expected. Evening temperatures should be around 27–30 °C, and light dew under lights might aid chasing teams later in the second innings.
🔑 Key Players to Watch
New Zealand:
- Tim Seifert – Powerhitter and keeper
- Glenn Phillips – Middle-order firepower
- Mitchell Santner – All-round balance
Sri Lanka:
- Pathum Nissanka – Run-scoring opener
- Kusal Perera – Explosive batter
- Maheesh Theekshana – Spin wicket-taker
📊 Match Prediction
New Zealand’s deep batting lineup and seam strength give them a slight edge on paper. However, Sri Lanka’s home conditions and spin options could prove decisive if they control the middle overs. Expect a tight Super 8 contest where key partnerships and middle-over momentum could determine the winner.