Jimmy Neesham On The “Subcontinent Challenge”: New Zealand Gears Up For India T20Is And “Group Of Death” World Cup

With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 just weeks away, the upcoming five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand serves as the ultimate “tune-up.” For the Kiwis, it’s an opportunity to test their mettle in subcontinent conditions that traditionally favor the home side.

Speaking ahead of the series, James Neesham—currently representing Dubai Capitals in the ILT20—shared his thoughts on the challenge of facing a “formidable” Indian outfit and the lessons learned from previous tournament cycles.

Tuning Up for the Big Stage

Neesham was candid about the importance of this bilateral series, especially after New Zealand’s struggle in the 2024 World Cup where they lacked match practice.

“It’s no secret that it’s a bit of a tune-up for the World Cup. It’s about finding our own combinations and getting comfortable as a team. We’ve learnt our lessons from 2024, where we didn’t have any cricket leading in, and we’re going to be going in off the back of a lot of cricket this time.”

When asked about tactical plans to exploit India’s recent dominance, Neesham remained tight-lipped but acknowledged the home advantage: “It helps that there have been a few tournaments in very favourable conditions for subcontinent teams. It’s tough to knock over strong teams in their conditions.”

Surviving the “Group of Death”

The 2026 World Cup draw has placed New Zealand in Group D, widely labeled the “Group of Death,” alongside South Africa and Afghanistan.

• The Mindset: Neesham emphasizes treating every game as a one-off event. “You’re probably saying that you win two out of South Africa and Afghanistan and you’re through. It’s simple from that perspective… hope you can get a bit of luck on your side.”
• No Looking Ahead: The Blackcaps are determined not to look past the initial group stage, focusing solely on the first match to ensure they don’t repeat past early exits.

Growth in the ILT20

Currently under the guidance of Hemang Badani (who recently took over as Head Coach for Delhi Capitals in the IPL), Neesham is honing his skills as a finisher. Working alongside power-hitters like Mohammed Nabi and Rovman Powell has been instrumental for his growth.

“Probably the most difficult role in T20 cricket is batting 6 and 7 and finishing games off,” Neesham noted. “It’s been good to bounce ideas off guys like Nabi and Rov and learn how they go about their game.”

India vs New Zealand T20I Series 2026: Full Schedule