India vs New Zealand 1st T20I is taking place today, and in case you don’t have much time left until the toss, this article is written for your convenience. Here we have included all the timings in India, timings in other time zones, where you can catch the game, probable XIs, pitch and weather forecast in Christchurch, the key stats to look into, and important things that may shape the outcome of the match. All information is provided in tables, so you can easily find whatever you need.
NZ vs IND 1st T20I is the first match of a series which consists of five games to be played at Hagley Oval. The current match is also the first T20I encounter of the teams since the victory of India by 96 runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup final. The captain of India is Shreyas Iyer, the captain of New Zealand is Mitchell Santner.
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I: Match Day at a Glance
Firstly, match day tips for India against New Zealand will be shared. It will be the first game of five matches on the India tour of New Zealand 2026. As New Zealand is way ahead of India in terms of time zones, any evening match of New Zealand will be played during early afternoons in India.
Match Day Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
| Match | 1st T20I, India tour of New Zealand 2026 |
| Date | Thursday, October 22, 2026 |
| Venue | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| Toss | 12:00 PM IST |
| First Ball | 12:30 PM IST (8:00 PM local) |
| Captains | Shreyas Iyer (India), Mitchell Santner (New Zealand) |
| Series | Five T20Is |
| Last Meeting | 2026 T20 World Cup final, India won by 96 runs |
India vs New Zealand Toss Time IST and the Match-Day Timeline
Time for India vs New Zealand toss: 12:00 PM, Time for first ball: 12:30 PM. T20I matches are usually completed in more than three hours, so one can expect a finish around 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM. However, this is only an estimation as rain delays and extended last over might result in extending the match.
Approximate Timeline (IST)
| Event | Time (IST) |
| Toss | 12:00 PM |
| Teams confirmed at the toss | About 12:00 PM |
| First innings begins | 12:30 PM |
| Innings break | Roughly 2:00 PM |
| Second innings begins | Roughly 2:20 PM |
| Expected finish | Around 3:45 PM to 4:00 PM |
Start Time Around the World
| Region | First Ball |
| New Zealand (NZDT) | 8:00 PM |
| India (IST) | 12:30 PM |
| Pakistan (PKT) | 12:00 PM |
| Bangladesh | 1:00 PM |
| UAE | 11:00 AM |
| United Kingdom (BST) | 8:00 AM |
| South Africa | 9:00 AM |
| Australia (AEDT, Sydney) | 6:00 PM |
Time zones convert from the official 12:30 PM IST start. Daylight-saving changes in some countries can shift these by an hour in the coming days, so confirm locally if you’re planning around later matches.
India vs New Zealand Live Streaming: Where to Watch
Live streaming of India against New Zealand in India is quite easy. On television, the match can be watched on the Sony Sports Network, while on the app and website of SonyLIV, the game is streamed. Additionally, Doordarshan has been mentioned among the broadcasters, and this means that there is also an option for watching the match on free-to-air television. In New Zealand, the game is telecasted on Sky Sport NZ, while the free-to-air options have been stated to be available on Three or Sky Open.
Broadcast Guide
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| India | Sony Sports Network, Doordarshan | SonyLIV (app and website) |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ; free-to-air on Three or Sky Open as announced | Sky Go, Sky Sport Now, ThreeNow |
India Squad and Probable XI
India v New Zealand XI Playing XI is unknown for the touring team until the toss. But we get an idea from the squads announced by India and New Zealand. India have included a squad of 16 players, with Shreyas Iyer as captain and Tilak Varma as vice-captain. Iyer stated that Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will be used as opening batters, implying that young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will wait for his chance. Bhuvneshwar Kumar makes a comeback after four years in the T20I squad.
India’s T20I Squad
| Role | Players |
| Captain / Vice-Captain | Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma (vc) |
| Batters | Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Naman Dhir |
| Wicketkeeper-batters | Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan |
| All-rounders | Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel |
| Fast bowlers | Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav |
| Spinners | Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy |
New Zealand Squad and Probable XI
New Zealand vs India XI for the home team is going to depend on the toss and also the pitch. The New Zealanders have selected 18 players, with Mitchell Santner as their skipper. Experienced batsmen like Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell have been selected in the team, while Finn Allen will bring power into the team if he is selected.
However, one warning is to be kept in mind in this regard; sometimes some of the preview websites select their New Zealand XI with some players who have not been selected in the 18-player squad.
Probable Playing XIs
| India (probable) | New Zealand (probable) |
| Sanju Samson (wk-bat) | Tim Robinson |
| Abhishek Sharma | Devon Conway (wk) |
| Ishan Kishan | Rachin Ravindra |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) | Daryl Mitchell |
| Tilak Varma | Glenn Phillips |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Mark Chapman |
| Axar Patel | James Neesham |
| Naman Dhir | Mitchell Santner (c) |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Matt Henry |
| Arshdeep Singh | Ish Sodhi |
| Mayank Yadav | Jacob Duffy |
New Zealand’s T20I Squad
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Mitchell Santner |
| Batters | Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Bevon Jacobs |
| Wicketkeeper-batter | Devon Conway |
| All-rounders | James Neesham, Josh Clarkson, Nathan Smith |
| Fast bowlers | Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Kyle Jamieson, Blair Tickner |
| Spinners | Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi |
Players to Watch Today
The two who will have the most to consider will be Shreyas Iyer and Mitchell Santner, as they will call the shots once the toss has been completed. From India’s perspective, the first six overs will be critical; for example, if Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson make a quick start, then India’s other batsmen will have the freedom to take a risk. With regard to their batting lineup,
India has players such as Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan, who give them flexibility. In terms of bowlers, attention will revolve around Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is known for his swing and may turn out to be helpful during the cool evenings in Christchurch, as well as Arshdeep Singh, who can operate in the powerplay and death overs.
Players to Watch
| Player | Team | What to Look For |
| Abhishek Sharma | India | Powerplay tempo as an attacking opener |
| Sanju Samson | India | Opening partnership and keeping duties |
| Shreyas Iyer | India | Captaincy and middle-order anchor |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | India | Early swing after nearly four years away |
| Arshdeep Singh | India | Left-arm pace at both ends of the innings |
| Devon Conway | New Zealand | Top-order stability |
| Glenn Phillips | New Zealand | Power-hitting in the middle overs |
| Matt Henry | New Zealand | Bounce and seam with the new ball |
| Mitchell Santner | New Zealand | Captain and left-arm spinner |
Hagley Oval Pitch Report
Hagley Oval pitch report highlights indicate that the pitch favors fast bowlers initially and tends to become easier for batting after the ball gets soft. The recent history of the ground is in favor of the team batting first, as one of the match preview articles says that out of five recent matches held in the ground, three have been won by the team batting first, one by the chasing side, and the remaining one had to be abandoned due to rain. Another indicator which counts all T20 matches at the ground indicates slight advantage of chasing sides.
Pitch and Venue Quick View
| Factor | What the Trend Suggests |
| Early overs | Bounce and some movement for fast bowlers |
| Later overs | Surface tends to ease for batting |
| Recent matches (one preview) | Three of last five won by the team batting first |
| All T20s at the ground (one tracker) | Slight edge to chasing teams |
| Wickets by type (one tracker) | Roughly 70% pace, 30% spin |
Weather in Christchurch
The Christchurch weather seems favorable for playing the whole game. Predictions suggest that it will be a sunny day, with a very low probability of rainfall of around 0% to 10%, as well as cool temperatures ranging from 12°C to 20°C at the start of the evening. Cold conditions will benefit the swing bowlers in the early overs, as well as help keep the ball dry for the spin bowlers.
The conditions can change swiftly in New Zealand; therefore, one should refer to the local weather forecast before the match starts.
Records and Head-to-Head That Matter
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I has the advantage of playing against each other where India have won 19 matches in 31 T20Is against New Zealand, New Zealand have won 11 matches and there was also one no-result match. The last time when these teams played each other was on March 8, 2026, in the final of the T20 World Cup where India scored 255/5 while bowling New Zealand out for 159 runs.
India vs New Zealand T20I Head-to-Head
| Measure | Figure |
| Matches played | 31 |
| India wins | 19 |
| New Zealand wins | 11 |
| No result | 1 |
| Last meeting | 2026 T20 World Cup final, India won by 96 runs |
Some sources count 33 matches because of how ties and no-results are recorded. The gap between the sides is the same.
Recent Form Going In
| Team | Recent Series |
| India | Drew a five-match home T20I series 2-2 against the West Indies |
| New Zealand | Reported to have won a recent ODI series 3-2 against the West Indies |
Three Questions That Could Decide the Match
In the match between India and New Zealand in the 1st T20I, there will be certain questions which can decide the outcome of the game, and all those will be seen in the initial overs itself.
First, whether India wins the toss and how do they elect to bat or bowl? This is important in view of the inconsistent nature of the pitch and the decision taken by the captain of the side which wins the toss will become important. Second, whether the openers of India cope up with the early bounce? If not, then that will be a disaster for them.
Match-Day Watch List
| Question | Why It Matters |
| Toss decision | Pitch trends are mixed, so the call is important |
| Abhishek and Samson in the powerplay | Sets India’s tempo against Henry and Duffy |
| Bhuvneshwar’s first spell | Swing can change the shape of the innings |
| Santner and Sodhi in the middle overs | Spin could slow India’s run rate |
| Final-over execution | T20Is often come down to the last three overs |
India vs New Zealand T20I Series 2026: Schedule
India tour of New Zealand 2026 includes five T20Is over about ten days. Every match is scheduled to start at 12:30 PM IST, which is 8:00 PM local time.
T20I Series Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
| 1st T20I | October 22, 2026 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| 2nd T20I | October 24, 2026 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| 3rd T20I | October 27, 2026 | Wellington |
| 4th T20I | October 30, 2026 | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 5th T20I | November 1, 2026 | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
Match-Day Checklist Before the Toss
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I is easier to follow when you know what to check and when. Run through this short list in the half hour before the toss.
Quick Checklist
| Check | Why |
| Toss result at 12:00 PM IST | Tells you who bats first |
| Confirmed XIs | Projected lineups can change |
| Whether Sooryavanshi plays | A talking point of the tour |
| Latest weather update | A rain delay can change the plan |
| Your viewing platform | Sony Sports Network, Doordarshan or SonyLIV |
Frequently Asked Questions About India vs New Zealand 1st T20I
1. What time is the India vs New Zealand 1st T20I?
The toss is at 12:00 PM IST and the first ball is at 12:30 PM IST (8:00 PM local time in Christchurch) on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
2. Where is the India vs New Zealand 1st T20I being played?
The match is at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand.
3. Who are the captains in the India vs New Zealand T20I series?
Shreyas Iyer captains India and Mitchell Santner captains New Zealand.
4. Where can I watch India vs New Zealand 1st T20I live in India?
It’s broadcast on the Sony Sports Network and Doordarshan, and streamed on SonyLIV.
5. What is India’s probable playing XI?
A probable XI includes Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav. The confirmed XI is announced at the toss.
6. What is New Zealand’s probable playing XI?
A probable XI built from the announced squad includes Tim Robinson, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi and Jacob Duffy. Treat it as a projection until the toss.
7. Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play today?
It isn’t confirmed. Shreyas Iyer has said Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will continue as openers, so Sooryavanshi may have to wait for his chance.
8. What is the pitch like at Hagley Oval?
It usually offers bounce and some movement for fast bowlers early, then eases for batting. Recent results favour teams batting first in one preview, while another tracker shows a slight overall edge to chasing teams.
9. Will it rain during the match?
Forecasts show mostly clear skies with a low chance of rain, about 0% to 10%, and cool evening temperatures of roughly 12°C to 20°C. Check a local forecast before the start.
10. What is the India vs New Zealand head-to-head in T20Is?
India have won 19, New Zealand 11, with one no-result in 31 matches, though some sources count 33 matches depending on how ties are recorded.
11. When is the next match in the series?
The 2nd T20I is on October 24, 2026, at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, also starting at 12:30 PM IST.
12. When did India and New Zealand last play a T20I?
They last met in the 2026 T20 World Cup final on March 8, 2026, when India won by 96 runs.
