New Zealand left out Cole McConchie for Jacob Duffy for the 2026 T20 World Cup final against India.
Jacob Duffy in, Cole McConchie out in T20 World Cup final
Halfway through the T20 World Cup, New Zealand flew out McConchie for the injured Michael Bracewell and almost immediately drafted him into the playing XI. Having debuted in ODIs in 2023 and in T20Is in 2021, McConchie had not played international cricket since April 2024.
At the World Cup, he began with 3-0-34-0 against Canada. Then, against Sri Lanka, he made 31 not out in 23 balls to lift New Zealand from 84-6 to 168-7 before conceding only 20 in his three overs. Against England, his only over went for 13.
However, he had a brief yet extremely impactful role to play in the semi-final against South Africa. Opening bowling with his off-breaks, he took out the left-handed pair of Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton with consecutive balls, but did not bowl again in the match. New Zealand restricted South Africa to 169-8 and won inside 13 overs.
Final, India vs New Zealand
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Why did New Zealand drop McConchie for the final?
New Zealand played three frontline bowlers – captain Mitchell Santner and fast bowlers Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson – in the semi-final, and entrusted McConchie, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, and Jimmy Neesham to bowl the overs. That gave the bowling line-up a depleted look.
Since Ravindra and Phillips are primarily batters, one of McConchie and Neesham would have had to sit out. Neesham (13-0-135-3, one innings with the bat) is yet to leave a mark in this World Cup, but the team management opted for him over McConchie.
That may be because the final is being played on the middle pitch of the Ahmedabad venue, which had also hosted the IPL 2025 final (but not the 2023 World Cup final). This specific pitch, a mixture of red and black soil, offers bounce but does not provide much turn.
Keeping that, and the possibility of dew, in mind, New Zealand might have picked Duffy and retained Neesham despite India’s long string of left-handers.
It is worth a mention that Duffy has figures of 12-0-121-3 in this World Cup, including 6-0-80-1 against the two Full Members.
