India's packed tour of New Zealand gets underway on 22 October 2026 with a five-match T20I series. With the ODIs and Tests to follow, the T20Is are a chance for a fresh-looking Indian side to make a strong start in conditions that often favour swing and bounce.
T20I schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Thursday, 22 October | Christchurch |
| 2nd T20I | Saturday, 24 October | Christchurch |
| 3rd T20I | Tuesday, 27 October | Wellington |
| 4th T20I | Friday, 30 October | Auckland |
| 5th T20I | Sunday, 1 November | Hamilton |
New Zealand is seven and a half hours ahead of India at this time of year, so evening matches there will be played around midday Indian time.
India's T20I squad
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav.
The squads for the ODI and Test legs of the tour will be announced later.
Key talking points
- Shreyas Iyer in charge: Iyer leads the T20I side, with Tilak Varma as his deputy, giving the team a settled middle-order core.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return: the veteran swing bowler is back in the T20I squad after a long gap. New Zealand's conditions could suit his ability to move the new ball.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: the teenage batting sensation gets a chance on one of the toughest tours for young openers.
- Wicketkeeping choice: both Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan are in the squad, offering aggressive top-order options.
- Spin vs pace: with Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel available, India must decide how much spin to play on pitches that usually help seamers.
- Young pace options: Mayank Yadav's raw speed and Arshdeep Singh's left-arm angle add variety alongside Bhuvneshwar.
The rest of the tour
After the T20Is, India play five ODIs from 4 to 15 November and two Tests in Wellington and Christchurch from 19 November to 1 December. An India A squad led by Dhruv Jurel is also touring for three multi-day matches against New Zealand A.
Where to watch
Reports indicate the series will be broadcast on the Sony Sports Network, with live streaming on SonyLIV in India. Check the broadcaster's schedule for exact start times.
Squad and schedule as announced by the BCCI; check official broadcasters for exact match timings.
