Co-hosts Sri Lanka face a must-win scenario as they take on New Zealand at R. Premadasa Stadium tonight, with their tournament survival hanging by a thread after heavy defeats to England and Zimbabwe.
The Lankans’ batting looked limited on home surfaces, lacking imagination and solutions when it mattered most. New Zealand, meanwhile, finally entered the Super 8s after their Pakistan washout, uncertain how their game translates to Colombo’s slower pitches and larger outfields.
Captain Mitchell Santner admits it “feels like we haven’t played for days,” but New Zealand lead the head-to-head 5-4 in T20Is played in Sri Lanka. With spin expected to dominate again on a fresh pitch, this promises high-stakes drama.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Match Details – T20 World Cup 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | New Zealand vs Sri Lanka (46th Match, Super 8 Group 2) |
| Date | Wednesday, February 25, 2026 |
| Venue | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Time | 7:00 PM LOCAL / 1:30 PM GMT / 7:00 PM IST |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Super 8s |
Where to Watch NZ vs SL T20 World Cup 2026 Live?
New Zealand fans can watch the match live on Sky Sport NZ with streaming available on Sky Go and TVNZ+. Sri Lankan viewers can access the game through TV Supreme and Dialog TV with streaming on ICC.tv and Sirasa TV. Indian audiences can tune in via Star Sports with JioHotstar streaming.
Live Streaming by Country
| Country | TV Broadcaster | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ | Sky Go, TVNZ+ |
| Sri Lanka | TV Supreme, Dialog TV | ICC.tv, Sirasa TV |
| India | Star Sports | JioHotstar |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Ten Sports, ASports | Myco, Tapmad, Tamasha |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports | Sky Go, NOW |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV | Willow by Cricbuzz |
| Australia | Fox Cricket, Nine Network | Amazon Prime Video, Kayo |
| South Africa | SuperSport | SuperSport App, DStv |
| Bangladesh | Gazi TV, T Sports | Rabbithole |
| Middle East | — | ICC.tv |
| Rest of World | Varies by country | ICC.tv |
Live Streaming Apps for T20 World Cup 2026
For fans on the go, several mobile apps offer live streaming of T20 World Cup 2026 matches. Here’s a comprehensive list of official streaming applications:
| App Name | Available In | Platform | Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| JioHotstar | India | iOS, Android | Free with Jio / Paid Premium |
| ICC.tv | Global | iOS, Android, Web | Pay-per-match / Tournament pass |
| Willow by Cricbuzz | USA, Canada | iOS, Android | Subscription required |
| Sky Go | UK, New Zealand | iOS, Android | Sky subscription required |
| Kayo Sports | Australia | iOS, Android, Web | Subscription required |
| Amazon Prime Video | Australia, Select regions | iOS, Android, Fire TV, Web | Prime membership required |
| SuperSport App | South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa | iOS, Android | DStv subscription required |
| TVNZ+ | New Zealand | iOS, Android, Web | Free with ads |
| NOW | United Kingdom | iOS, Android, Web | Day/Month pass available |
| Tapmad | Pakistan | iOS, Android | Free & Premium tiers |
| Tamasha | Pakistan | iOS, Android, Web | Subscription required |
The New Zealand vs Sri Lanka T20 World Cup 2026 match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport NZ with streaming on Sky Go and TVNZ+. Sri Lankan viewers can watch on TV Supreme and Dialog TV with ICC.tv and Sirasa TV streaming, while Indian fans can access the match via Star Sports and JioHotstar.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Probable XIs – T20 World Cup 2026
Sri Lanka stick with Kamil Mishara over Kusal Perera from their last match. New Zealand, with all 15 players available, likely field the same XI prepared for Pakistan’s washout, featuring legspinner Ish Sodhi alongside pace duo Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry.
New Zealand Probable XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson
Sri Lanka Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka
R. Premadasa Stadium – Pitch Report & Stats
Mitchell Santner confirmed a “fresh pitch” for this match, but spin will dominate again with large ground dimensions and a slow surface. Scoring through the middle overs is crucial. Cloudy day forecast, but no rain expected. New Zealand’s proficiency against spin (best average post-2024 WC) faces Sri Lanka’s desperate need for redemption.
T20 Stats At R. Premadasa Stadium
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Total T20 Matches | 64 |
| Matches won batting first | 27 |
| Matches won bowling first | 36 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 144 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 129 |
| Highest total recorded | 215/5 (19.4 Ovs) by BAN vs SL |
| Lowest total recorded | 80/10 (17.2 Ovs) by AFG vs ENG |
| Highest score chased | 215/5 (19.4 Ovs) by BAN vs SL |
| Lowest score defended | 115/6 (20 Ovs) by RSA vs SL |
