Kolkata, March 4 New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson said his team is prepared for the challenge of facing South Africa in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, adding that the composition of their playing eleven will be slightly different for the crucial match.
New Zealand is aiming to stop South Africa’s unbeaten streak, and a win will take them to the final, which will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The Blackcaps have been strengthened by the inclusion of pacer Matt Henry, who returned after attending the birth of his second child.
"Obviously, the different cricket style in Colombo required using a lot of spinners, and the team composition was slightly different, but it's nice to get the points and then find ourselves in a semi-final.
"Tonight, we will know how difficult the wicket is in India, especially this one, so the team structure will probably change a little, but the boys are up for the challenge. He's always good. I've never seen him (Henry) down, so I'm sure he'll pass the fitness test and hopefully be fit for tonight," said Ferguson in a pre-match chat with the broadcasters.
Asked about the advice given to him for adapting to the conditions at Eden Gardens with the ball, Ferguson said, "I've received a lot of advice. I'll save that for after the game. But yes, I think many of the players have played here. It's not too different from other Indian grounds.
"It's a good batting track, with a quick outfield, so it's important for the bowlers to hit good areas and try to put as much pressure as possible. We know these guys are going to come out hard. But at the same time, if we can bowl in good areas for long enough, we'll get the rewards."
Ferguson stated that playing in the semi-final is a special occasion. "This is a game of cricket. We both start from scratch. Obviously, it's nice to play in the semi-finals. It's an exciting occasion.
"We know how challenging the South African side is and how many star players they have, but the boys are up to it. We also have a lot of firepower, so we're looking forward to tonight."
Kolkata, March 4 Fast bowler Matt Henry has returned to New Zealand’s playing eleven as captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bowl first against South Africa in the first semi-final of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
