India vs New Zealand 2026 is not a quick weekend series. It is 12 matches, three formats and roughly six weeks, and every game is played in New Zealand. The tour starts on October 22, finishes on December 1, and carries a lot of unfinished business with it.
Some history explains why this one matters. New Zealand won an ODI series in India in January, the first time they had done that. India then won the T20 World Cup in March with New Zealand as runners-up. And India still remember the 3-0 Test series loss from 2024. Nobody walks into this tour neutral.
India vs New Zealand 2026: Tour at a Glance
India vs New Zealand 2026 splits neatly into three chapters, and the format changes every couple of weeks.
| Format | Matches | Dates | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|
| T20Is | 5 | Oct 22 to Nov 1 | Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton |
| ODIs | 5 | Nov 4 to Nov 15 | Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga |
| Tests | 2 | Nov 19 to Dec 1 | Wellington, Christchurch |
IND vs NZ Schedule 2026: T20I Series
IND vs NZ schedule details start with the T20Is, which are all evening games in New Zealand and early afternoon in India.
| Match | Date | Venue | NZ Time | IST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Thu, Oct 22 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM |
| 2nd T20I | Sat, Oct 24 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM |
| 3rd T20I | Tue, Oct 27 | Hnry Stadium, Wellington | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM |
| 4th T20I | Fri, Oct 30 | Eden Park, Auckland | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM |
| 5th T20I | Sun, Nov 1 | Seddon Park, Hamilton | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM |
IND vs NZ ODI Series: Dates and Match Timings in IST
IND vs NZ ODI series fixtures begin right after the T20Is, and these are the early-morning games for Indian fans. All five start at 3:00 PM in New Zealand, which is 7:30 AM in India.
| Match | Date | Venue | NZ Time | IST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | Wed, Nov 4 | Eden Park, Auckland | 3:00 PM | 7:30 AM |
| 2nd ODI | Sat, Nov 7 | Hnry Stadium, Wellington | 3:00 PM | 7:30 AM |
| 3rd ODI | Tue, Nov 10 | Seddon Park, Hamilton | 3:00 PM | 7:30 AM |
| 4th ODI | Fri, Nov 13 | Bay Oval, Tauranga | 3:00 PM | 7:30 AM |
| 5th ODI | Sun, Nov 15 | Bay Oval, Tauranga | 3:00 PM | 7:30 AM |
IND vs NZ Test Series: The Real Examination
IND vs NZ Test series is the final chapter, and for many followers it is the main event. The first Test begins on November 19 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The second starts on November 27 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch and runs until December 1.
| Test | Start Date | Venue | Start Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | Thu, Nov 19 | Basin Reserve, Wellington | 3:30 AM |
| 2nd Test | Fri, Nov 27 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 3:30 AM |
Overseas red-ball cricket in New Zealand is a different challenge. The ball moves around early, and the bounce is usually less friendly than on Indian pitches.
India vs New Zealand Squads: India’s Test Squad
India vs New Zealand squads for the Test series have been announced. Shubman Gill captains, with KL Rahul as vice-captain.
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain / Vice-captain | Shubman Gill, KL Rahul |
| Batters | Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan |
| Wicketkeepers | Rishabh Pant (subject to fitness), Dhruv Jurel |
| All-rounders | Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy |
| Fast bowlers | Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj |
| Spinner | Kuldeep Yadav |
Mohammed Shami has been left out, and Manav Suthar has been dropped from the group.
Shubman Gill Captain: India’s ODI Squad Plan
Shubman Gill captain duties in the ODIs come with a twist, because India picked a split squad. Players who are also in the Test group, such as Gill, KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj, play only the first three ODIs before moving into red-ball preparation. Shreyas Iyer then leads the side in the fourth and fifth games.
India’s squad for the first three ODIs: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav.
Mitchell Santner and New Zealand’s T20I Squad
Mitchell Santner leads a 16-man New Zealand side for the T20Is, with a seven-strong pace attack. Adam Milne returns after more than a year away, and Rachin Ravindra misses out through injury, with Bevon Jacobs coming in.
| Department | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Mitchell Santner |
| Batters | Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Tim Seifert, Mark Chapman, Bevon Jacobs |
| All-rounders | Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith |
| Fast bowlers | Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Zak Foulkes |
Eden Park Auckland and Other Venues Explained
Eden Park Auckland hosts the fourth T20I and the first ODI. It is known for short square boundaries, so expect plenty of sixes in the shorter format. The other grounds each bring something different.
| Venue | City | Matches Hosted |
|---|---|---|
| Hagley Oval | Christchurch | 1st and 2nd T20I, 2nd Test |
| Hnry Stadium | Wellington | 3rd T20I, 2nd ODI |
| Eden Park | Auckland | 4th T20I, 1st ODI |
| Seddon Park | Hamilton | 5th T20I, 3rd ODI |
| Bay Oval | Tauranga | 4th and 5th ODI |
| Basin Reserve | Wellington | 1st Test |
Hagley Oval Christchurch: Where the Tour Begins and Ends
Hagley Oval Christchurch bookends this tour. It hosts the first two T20Is on October 22 and 24, and returns for the second Test starting November 27. That makes it the place where the series opens and where it is likely to be decided.
Quick Match Timings Cheat Sheet for Indian Fans
Match timings in IST are easy to remember once you see the pattern.
| Format | NZ Start | India Start |
|---|---|---|
| T20I | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM |
| ODI | 3:00 PM | 7:30 AM |
| Test (Day 1) | 11:00 AM | 3:30 AM |
Always confirm the final timing on the official match page, since schedules can shift for weather or broadcast reasons.
Final Thoughts
India vs New Zealand 2026 packs revenge storylines, a new-look Test side and a split ODI squad into one long tour. Bookmark the schedule tables above, and check the official pages before each match for any change in squads or timings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When does India vs New Zealand 2026 start?
The tour begins on Thursday, October 22, 2026, with the first T20I at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. It ends on December 1 with the conclusion of the second Test.
Q2. How many matches are in the India tour of New Zealand 2026?
There are 12 matches in total: five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests. All of them are played in New Zealand.
Q3. What is the full IND vs NZ schedule for the T20I series?
The five T20Is run on October 22, 24, 27, 30 and November 1. They are played in Christchurch (two games), Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton.
Q4. What are the IND vs NZ ODI series dates and venues?
The ODIs are on November 4, 7, 10, 13 and 15. Venues are Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton and Tauranga, with the last two games both at Bay Oval.
Q5. When does the IND vs NZ Test series begin?
The first Test starts on November 19 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The second begins on November 27 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Q6. Who is India’s captain for the Test series?
Shubman Gill is captain and KL Rahul is vice-captain. Jasprit Bumrah returns to lead the pace attack.
Q7. Who leads New Zealand in the T20I series?
Mitchell Santner captains the 16-member New Zealand side for the five T20Is.
Q8. What are the match timings in IST?
T20Is start at 12:30 PM IST, ODIs at 7:30 AM IST, and Tests at 3:30 AM IST on day one.
Q9. Is Mohammed Shami in India’s Test squad?
No. Shami has not been picked for the New Zealand Test squad.
Q10. Which ground hosts the most matches in the tour?
Hagley Oval in Christchurch hosts three matches in total: two T20Is and the second Test.
