Jimmy Neesham gets the nod for Black Caps 2026 T20 World Cup squad
Wednesday, 7 January 2026
The inclusion of veteran allrounder Jimmy Neesham and the absence of batter Tim Robinson are the major talking points of the Black Caps squad for the T20 World Cup next month.
Neesham was named in the 15-player squad on Wednesday for the 2026 version of the tournament in India and Sri Lanka, along with currently injured pace bowler Lockie Ferguson.
Kyle Jamieson has been named as the ‘16th man’, as a quick bowling replacement should Ferguson - who suffered a calf injury late last month during the ILT20 tournament in the UAE - not recover in time.
Head coach Rob Walter and selection manager Gavin Larsen have named a squad heavy on allrounders and bowlers. Skipper Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell all provide spin and batting ability, while Adam Milne, Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy join Ferguson among the quicks, with no room for Zak Foulkes.
That saw Wellington top-order batter Robinson surprisingly omitted. The 23-year-old has played just 20 T20I innings, but greatly impressed in 2025, averaging 44.66 at an excellent Strike Rate of 144.6, and made an unbeaten century versus Australia at Bay Oval at the start of October.
While Rachin Ravindra was never going to be left out of the squad - and will be expected to rise to the occasion in India - Robinson’s T20I numbers are notably superior. However, with a first-choice top-three of Tim Seifert, Finn Allen and Ravindra, Devon Conway was likely seen as a better back-up option, given his ability to also keep wickets.
Neesham, 35, wasn’t initially part of the first Black Caps T20 squad of the home season, but was called in as a late injury replacement versus Australia and took 4-26 in the final match of the series.
“I think first and foremostly you need to cover all bases,” Walter said of the squad selection.
“That sounds obvious, but sometimes can be tricky to do when you've got a 15-man squad.
“Fortunately, all our allrounders sit mostly within the spin space, so we do cover off spin with our batting options as well there. And then we wanted to make sure we had a strong pace bowling battery, given our position in the pool phases, and understanding the roles they play.”
Mark Chapman got the nod over Bevon Jacobs as a middle-order batter for a New Zealand side which has been drawn in Group D along with 2024 runners-up South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada and the UAE.
Walter said the players were hurt by the early exit at the previous event, after an under-prepared team lost its first two group games to Afghanistan and the West Indies.
“In the conversations that I've had since being in the job, I know that missing out in the last World Cup was certainly something that hurt the guys.
“This team is really always about representing the country well and they felt that we didn't get that right. I don't think there's extra motivation, because I don't think you need extra motivation.”
The Black Caps will play three ODIs and five T20Is in India against the hosts, starting on Sunday as they prepare for the World Cup.
Black Caps squad for 2026 T20 World Cup
Mitchell Santner (capt), Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson. 16th man: Kyle Jamieson.
Black Caps schedule (group D)
Sun Feb 8 v Afghanistan, Chennai, 6.30pm (NZT)
Tue Feb 10 v UAE, Chennai, 10.30pm
Sun Feb 15 v South Africa, Ahmedabad, 2.30am
Tue Feb 17 v Canada, Chennai, 6.30pm