Former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri has warned that South Africa cannot afford to let their guard down against New Zealand in the semi-final of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup T20 on Wednesday, March 4 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The Proteas remain unbeaten in the tournament, winning all seven of their matches, including a seven-goal win over the Black Caps during the group stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Shastri emphasized that while one team may seem to have the upper hand, facing a side of New Zealand’s caliber means the momentum can change quickly.
“Ahead of New Zealand you can never be guarded and think you have your nose in front and you tend to relax. Because then suddenly there will be a period where two or three wickets go and they are back in the thick of it,” Shastri said in the ICC review.
‘THEY DON’T GIVE AN INCH’
New Zealand experienced a mixed campaign, characterized by both setbacks and resilience. They were threatened with an early exit under Mitchell Santner but narrowly secured their place in the semi-finals after seeing off Pakistan on clean pace to finish in the top four.
Shastri noted that the Kiwis are meticulous in their preparation and maintain intensity on the field, rarely taking a step back regardless of the match situation.
“I think their preparation is incredibly detailed. Where they study each player, which pitchers should throw when to a specific batter,” he said.
“Their matches are fantastic. And you see on the field, they don’t give an inch. They hang in there,” Shastri added.
South Africa have historically dominated New Zealand in T20Is, winning 12 of the 19 encounters. Their dominance was even more pronounced at the T20 World Cups, where the Proteas won all five of their matches against the Black Caps, including a victory over the 2021 runners-up.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
03 March 2026 23:01 IST
