Not South Africa or Australia, Ex-India speedster picks this team as potential threat for India in T20 World Cup 2026

Former India speedster Varun Aaron believes that New Zealand could still pose a significant threat to India in the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup 2026 which is scheduled to start from February 7. Notably, India recently defeated New Zealand 4-1 in the five-match T20I series during their last international assignment before the marquee event.

Varun Aaron on India's T20 World Cup 2026 threat

Aaron further stated that New Zealand batters’ ability against spin and their vast experience of playing in Indian conditions through the IPL.

“They are a big challenge for India because they have a lot of players in their ranks who can play spin really well,” Aaron said while speaking to Star Sports.

“We all know that when you come to the subcontinent, your batters have to be able to negotiate spin well, and they also have a lot of experience playing in the IPL. The likes of Daryl Mitchell, somebody who is in prime form, is going to be key in this New Zealand setup.

“The thing with New Zealand is that they have this never-give-up attitude. They can come from behind and win games. New Zealand is a team which has never had massive superstars when you compare them to the likes of Australia and India, but somehow they all chip in, and most importantly, on the field, they save a lot of runs,” he added.

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New Zealand's Group Stage schedule

New Zealand are placed in Group B alongside South Africa, Afghanistan, the UAE, and Canada. They will open their campaign against Afghanistan on February 8, followed by a clash with the UAE on February 10. The team will then take on South Africa and Canada on February 14 and 17, respectively. Aaron said the Kiwis possess one of the most well-rounded bowling attacks, which will suit the conditions.

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“New Zealand have one of the most well-rounded bowling attacks, whether it comes to spin or pace, because a lot of their players have extensive IPL experience. When you have IPL experience, you know how conditions are going to play out. You know each venue really well, especially someone like Mitchell Santner, who is going to be key for them, particularly when the wickets get slower towards the backend,” he said

“They have got Afghanistan and South Africa, two very potent teams, especially Afghanistan. Afghanistan, for me, are the dark horses, especially in the group stages. They can knock out any team on a given day. So New Zealand are really going to have to be at their best if they want to qualify for the next stage,” added Aaron.