Chennai witnessed a significant moment in the T20 World Cup 2026 as Afghanistan’s impressive record came to an end. Known worldwide for their exceptional bowling attack, especially their spin bowlers, Afghanistan had never lost a match after posting a total of 180 or more runs in T20 internationals. This streak of 25 consecutive wins was broken in their recent clash against New Zealand.
At the spin-friendly M A Chidambaram Stadium, Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first. Thanks to a solid 63-run innings by Gulbadin Naib, the team posted a competitive total of 182 runs. The bowling started well for Afghanistan with spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries during the second over, putting New Zealand under early pressure.
However, Afghanistan’s spinners could not maintain their usual dominance on the spin-friendly surface, which played a key role in their defeat. New Zealand’s openers, led by Tim Seifert who scored 65 runs, successfully chased the target in 17.5 overs with five wickets in hand, handing Afghanistan their first loss after scoring over 180 runs in a T20 match.
This match marks the first time in 26 attempts that Afghanistan has failed to secure a victory after surpassing the 180-run mark. The result highlights the unpredictability of the game and breaks a remarkable winning streak for the Afghan team in the shortest format of cricket.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.