The India vs New Zealand series 2026 is officially here, kicking off an electrifying 40-day bilateral cricket extravaganza across scenic kiwi grounds. Following high-octane battles earlier in the year, the Men in Blue have crossed the Pacific for 12 all-format matches: five T20Is, five ODIs, and two crucial Test matches.
Whether you want to track Shubman Gill’s captaincy test, Shreyas Iyer’s high-flying T20I unit, or find out where to catch the morning action live in India, this guide covers every single boundary and breakthrough.
India vs New Zealand Series Overview & Key Dates
The tour runs from late October through early December 2026. Fans can expect early morning alarms in India, bouncy tracks, and short square boundaries that favor massive sixes.
| Feature | Details |
| Tour Name | India Tour of New Zealand 2026–27 |
| Dates | October 22, 2026 – December 1, 2026 |
| Matches | 5 T20Is, 5 ODIs, 2 Tests (12 matches total) |
| Indian Captains | Shreyas Iyer (T20Is), Shubman Gill (ODIs & Tests) |
| New Zealand Captain | Mitchell Santner (White-ball), Tom Latham (Tests) |
India vs New Zealand 2026 Schedule & Match Timings (IST)
The games are scheduled across Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga. Check the table below to mark your calendar:
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (IST) | Local Time |
| 1st T20I | Oct 22, 2026 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 12:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 2nd T20I | Oct 24, 2026 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 12:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 3rd T20I | Oct 27, 2026 | Sky Stadium, Wellington | 12:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 4th T20I | Oct 30, 2026 | Eden Park, Auckland | 12:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 5th T20I | Nov 01, 2026 | Seddon Park, Hamilton | 12:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 1st ODI | Nov 04, 2026 | Eden Park, Auckland | 7:30 AM | 3:00 PM |
| 2nd ODI | Nov 07, 2026 | Sky Stadium, Wellington | 7:30 AM | 3:00 PM |
| 3rd ODI | Nov 10, 2026 | Seddon Park, Hamilton | 7:30 AM | 3:00 PM |
| 4th ODI | Nov 13, 2026 | Bay Oval, Tauranga | 7:30 AM | 3:00 PM |
| 5th ODI | Nov 15, 2026 | Bay Oval, Tauranga | 7:30 AM | 3:00 PM |
| 1st Test | Nov 19–23, 2026 | Basin Reserve, Wellington | 3:30 AM | 11:00 AM |
| 2nd Test | Nov 27–Dec 01, 2026 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 3:30 AM | 11:00 AM |
Where to Watch India vs New Zealand Match
Never miss an over, even with the demanding New Zealand time zone:
- India (Digital): Stream live in multi-cam 4K on the JioHotstar / Disney+ Hotstar apps across smartphones, tablets, and connected TVs.
- India (Television): Broadcast live on the Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1 HD/SD, Star Sports Hindi HD/SD, and regional feeds).
- New Zealand: Live on TVNZ+ (free-to-air digital) and Sky Sport NZ.
- USA & Canada: Stream on Willow TV and ESPN+.
- UK: Live telecast on TNT Sports and discovery+.
India vs New Zealand Squads & Team News
Both cricket boards refreshed their rosters with a mix of young firepower and tactical veterans.
Team India T20I Squad for New Zealand
- Batters & Keepers: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
- All-Rounders: Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir.
- Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav.
New Zealand Squad for New Zealand
- Batters & Keepers: Devon Conway (wk), Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs.
- All-Rounders: Mitchell Santner (Captain), Michael Bracewell, Josh Clarkson.
- Pacers & Spinners: Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner.
(Note: Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes were ruled out of the T20Is due to soft-tissue injuries, opening the door for Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner.)
Lesser-Known Facts About the IND vs NZ Rivalry
- The Wellington Wind Factor: Basin Reserve features some of the strongest cross-breeze winds in world cricket. Swing bowlers regularly use the gusting southerly wind to produce late banana swing.
- Eden Park’s Rugby Geometry: The straight boundaries at Auckland’s Eden Park measure barely 55 to 65 meters, making 200+ run chases normal in T20 cricket.
- The 40-Day Marathon: This marks the first time in modern bilateral cricket history that India is playing 12 full international matches in New Zealand within a single tour.
- Santner’s Record Defense: Mitchell Santner has maintained an economy rate under 7.00 against India at home, remaining one of the toughest left-arm finger spinners to target.
Conclusion
Everything is set for an unforgettable month of cricket during the India vs New Zealand series 2026. From Christchurch’s seam-friendly turf to Auckland’s boundary fireworks, this marathon series promises nail-biting finishes across every format. Set your morning alarms, assemble your fantasy picks, and back the Men in Blue as they take on the BlackCaps on their home turf!
FAQs
The series begins on October 22, 2026, with the 1st T20I at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
You can watch the series live on Star Sports channels on television or stream it digitally on the Disney+ Hotstar / JioHotstar app.
T20Is start at 12:30 PM IST, ODIs start at 7:30 AM IST, and Test matches begin at 3:30 AM IST.
Shreyas Iyer leads the Indian team in the T20I series, while Shubman Gill captains the side in the ODI and Test series.
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