India vs New Zealand 2026 starts in Christchurch on October 22. Across five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests, the tour runs until December 1. New Zealand Cricket calls the 12-match visit its largest inbound international tour.
Shreyas Iyer leads India’s T20I team, Shubman Gill and Iyer share ODI captaincy, and Jasprit Bumrah returns for the Tests. Injuries have also altered New Zealand’s squad.
Key Highlights
- First T20I: October 22 in Christchurch.
- Five ODIs run from November 4 to 15.
- Tests begin November 19 and 27.
- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli feature in India’s ODI squads.
- Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV have Indian broadcast rights.
India vs New Zealand 2026 Full Match Schedule and IST Timings
The T20Is start at 12:30 PM IST, followed by morning ODIs and early Tests. These timings follow BCCI fixtures; Test dates show the scheduled window.
| Match | Date | Venue | Start (IST) |
| 1st T20I | Oct 22 | Christchurch | 12:30 PM |
| 2nd T20I | Oct 24 | Christchurch | 12:30 PM |
| 3rd T20I | Oct 27 | Wellington | 12:30 PM |
| 4th T20I | Oct 30 | Auckland | 12:30 PM |
| 5th T20I | Nov 1 | Hamilton | 12:30 PM |
| 1st ODI | Nov 4 | Auckland | 7:30 AM |
| 2nd ODI | Nov 7 | Wellington | 7:30 AM |
| 3rd ODI | Nov 10 | Hamilton | 7:30 AM |
| 4th ODI | Nov 13 | Mount Maunganui | 7:30 AM |
| 5th ODI | Nov 15 | Mount Maunganui | 7:30 AM |
| 1st Test | Nov 19–23 | Wellington | 3:30 AM |
| 2nd Test | Nov 27–Dec 1 | Christchurch | 3:30 AM |
Four days separate the last ODI and first Test. Both Tests count towards the 2025–27 World Test Championship. India A has a separate three-match, multi-day series in Lincoln and Christchurch from October 24 to November 10. Those games are outside the 12 senior fixtures.
India Squad Updates: Captains and Key Returns
India’s October 6 T20I announcement named Iyer captain and Tilak Varma vice-captain. Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns to the T20I setup after last appearing in November 2022. Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is also in the 16-member group.
The October 16 ODI and Test selections provide several developments:
- ODIs 1–3: Gill captains, with Iyer as vice-captain. Rohit and Kohli are selected, alongside KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan.
- ODIs 4–5: Iyer takes over as captain, Ishan becomes vice-captain, and Tilak Varma joins the squad.
- Tests: Gill leads with KL Rahul as deputy. Bumrah, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja are included; Rishabh Pant requires fitness clearance.
Prasidh Krishna also requires fitness clearance. Bumrah appears only in the Test squad. Splitting the ODI squads gives Test players preparation time.
New Zealand Squad Changes and the Bigger Contest
The T20Is reunite the 2026 T20 World Cup finalists. New Zealand Cricket initially picked 13 players from its tournament runner-up squad before injuries forced changes. Mitchell Santner captains New Zealand’s white-ball teams. Injuries have already changed its T20I plans: Mark Chapman has a hamstring tear and Zak Foulkes a hip-flexor injury. Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner replace them.
New Zealand’s ODI selection has a different emphasis:
- Rachin Ravindra returns for the first three ODIs after a shoulder injury kept him out of the T20I series.
- Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert join the ODI squad for the final two matches.
- Seven new players enter after the third ODI as others prepare for Test cricket.
The hosts won their January 2026 ODI series in India 2–1. New Zealand Cricket reported over 76,000 tickets sold a month before this tour. Its 14-player Test squad is due in early November.
Where to Watch India vs New Zealand 2026 and Latest FAQs
Indian viewers can watch on Sony Sports Network or stream through Sony LIV. New Zealand Cricket’s broadcast deal covers this tour. Follow official team announcements rather than predicted XIs.
FAQs
When does the India vs New Zealand 2026 series begin?
The opening T20I takes place on October 22 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. It is the first of five T20Is before the ODI and Test legs.
Who captains India during the New Zealand tour?
Shreyas Iyer leads the T20Is and final two ODIs. Shubman Gill captains the first three ODIs and both Tests, with KL Rahul vice-captain in Tests.
Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play against New Zealand?
Both are named in India’s ODI squads for all five matches. Neither appears in the announced T20I or Test squad for this New Zealand tour.
Is Rishabh Pant available for the Test series?
Pant is included in India’s Test squad but must receive fitness clearance before playing. Dhruv Jurel is the other wicketkeeper named for the two-match series.
Where can fans watch India vs New Zealand live in India?
Sony Sports Network holds television rights, while Sony LIV will stream the matches. Individual channel listings and subscription requirements may vary between providers and platforms.
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