Cricket News

Bangladesh Predicted Playing XI vs New Zealand: 2nd T20I Preview & Team News

Tanish Bansal

28/04/2026 · 4 min read

Contents

1 Bangladesh Aim for Series Clincher in 2nd T20I Against New Zealand

Bangladesh Aim for Series Clincher in 2nd T20I Against New Zealand

The excitement is palpable in Chattogram as Bangladesh and New Zealand prepare to face off in the second T20I of their three-match series on Wednesday, April 29. The encounter, scheduled to begin at 1:30 PM IST, will be hosted at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, a venue that has already witnessed the Tigers’ dominance in this series.

Bangladesh enters this fixture in scintillating form. Not only do they hold a 1-0 lead in the current T20I series, but they also carry the momentum from the preceding ODI series, which they secured with a 2-1 victory. For the home side, this series represents more than just a bilateral win; it is a statement of intent following a period of significant disruption.

The Context: Overcoming Adversity and Gaps

The road to this series was not without its hurdles. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made the difficult decision to withdraw from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India, citing security concerns. This left the squad with a gap of nearly five months without competitive T20I cricket. However, the Tigers silenced any doubts about their match-fitness on April 27, delivering a crushing six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first match.

On the other side, New Zealand finds itself in a challenging transition phase. The Black Caps are currently grappling with a depleted squad, as several of their senior stars are participating in the IPL 2026 season in India. Despite having reached the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup not long ago, the team currently fielding in Bangladesh is relatively young and inexperienced, led by the seasoned Test specialist Tom Latham. This lack of senior presence was evident in their recent five-match T20I series against South Africa, which they lost 2-3.

Analyzing the Bangladesh Batting Order

The Tigers’ batting display in the series opener was a masterclass in aggression and composure. Under the captaincy of Litton Das, Bangladesh chased down a challenging target of 182 with ease, finishing the game in just 18 overs.

The Opening Pair: Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan are expected to retain their spots at the top. Their swift 41-run partnership in the first game provided the ideal platform. While both were eventually dismissed in the middle overs, their ability to attack the new ball will be crucial in the second T20I to keep the pressure on the New Zealand bowlers.

The Anchor and the Aggressors: Captain Litton Das will likely occupy the number three spot. With 121 T20Is under his belt, the 31-year-old brings vital experience to the top order. Averaging 23.47 with a strike rate of 126.58, Litton has nearly 1,000 runs at this position, making him the glue that holds the innings together.

The middle order is where Bangladesh truly excelled in the first match. Towhid Hridoy was the standout performer, smashing a match-winning 51* off just 27 balls. Alongside him, Shamim Hossain (31* off 13) and Parvez Hossain Emon provided the explosive fireworks needed to dismantle the Black Caps’ bowling attack. These three will be the primary engines of the Bangladesh batting effort.

Bowling Strategy and All-Round Support

Bangladesh’s bowling unit showed great discipline in the series opener, restricting New Zealand to 182. The pace attack will be led by Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Shoriful Islam, both of whom picked up crucial wickets in the first T20I. Their ability to swing the ball early will be key to early breakthroughs.

In the spin department, Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain provide a dual threat. Beyond their bowling, both are known for their ability to score quick runs in the death overs, providing necessary depth to the batting lineup at numbers seven and eight.

Interestingly, Ripon Mondol is expected to keep his place in the XI. Although he went wicketless in the first encounter, his stellar domestic T20 record makes him a valuable asset that the management is keen to back.