Duffy earns maiden T20 World Cup selection

Jacob Duffy has been named in New Zealand's T20I squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup which is set to begin next month. It will be the pacer's first World Cup and he has been awarded with selection to the mega event after a prolific 2025 which saw him claim 81 international wickets in the calendar year.

Mitchell Santner will lead an experienced side. Tim Robinson, Bevon Jacobs and Zakary Foulkes have all missed the cut for the 15-man squad. Kyle Jamieson has been named as the travelling reserve for New Zealand.

Alongside Duffy, the pace attack consists of Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Adam Milne while James Neesham can roll his arm over. Santner is joined by Ish Sodhi, who played the same tournament in India a decade ago, as the major frontline spinners.

On the batting front, the explosive Finn Allen is partnered with Tim Seifert who will keep wickets for New Zealand. Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra make up the rest of the batting order

It is highly likely that Jamieson could play a part in the tournament with Henry's and Ferguson's partners due to give birth during the tournament period, resulting in the duo being granted short-term paternity leave.

"World Cups are special and there's few better places to play one than in India, which is very much the heartbeat of the modern game. I'm really happy with the skills and experience of this squad and I think we have a group which can make New Zealand proud," said head coach Rob Walter.

"We've got plenty of power and skill in the batting, quality bowlers who can adapt to conditions, plus five all-rounders who all bring something slightly different. This is an experienced group and the players are no strangers to playing in the sub-continent, which will be valuable," he added.

New Zealand ICC Men's T20 World Cup squad

Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi

Travelling Reserve: Kyle Jamieson

New Zealand have been named in Group D alongside Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa and UAE. They will begin their tournament against Afghanistan in Chennai on February 8, before playing UAE two days later at the same venue. The big clash against South Africa is on February 14 in Ahmedabad before they round up their group stage against Canada back in Chennai on February 17.