Can India Crack the Kiwi Code? T20I Series Set to Begin in Christchurch
India begin their five-match T20I series against New Zealand on October 22 in Christchurch, as Shreyas Iyer's Men in Blue look to start their tour with a win.
21 October, 2026
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The Men in Blue are ready to take on the Black Caps as India begin their multi-format tour of New Zealand with a five-match T20I series on October 22, 2026. The opening clash will take place at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, with the match set to begin at 12:30 PM IST.
Led by Shreyas Iyer, India will look to start the series on a winning note after playing out a 2-2 T20I series draw against the West Indies at home. The three-time T20 World Cup champions will be eager to find consistency in the shortest format and carry their experience into challenging conditions away from home.
India's last T20I series in New Zealand came in November 2022, when they secured a 1-0 victory in a three-match series. The visitors will hope to build on that record as they begin a tour featuring five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests.
Mitchell Santner's New Zealand, meanwhile, will be keen to make an early statement on home soil. The Black Caps enter the series after a 1-1 T20I series draw against Bangladesh in May 2026 and will look to challenge India's dominance in the format.
With both teams eager to gain an early advantage, the Christchurch clash promises an exciting start to the series. India will aim to turn their head-to-head edge into a winning performance, while the hosts will look to use home conditions to their advantage as the T20I battle gets underway.
New Zealand vs India T20I 2026 schedule and live match start times
All match times are in India Standard Time (IST)
Day and Date
Match
Venue
Time (IST)
Thursday, October 22
New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
12:30 PM
Saturday, October 24
New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
12:30 PM
Tuesday, October 27
New Zealand vs India, 3rd T20I
Hnry Stadium, Wellington
12:30 PM
Friday, October 30
New Zealand vs India, 4th T20I
Eden Park, Auckland
12:30 PM
Sunday, November 01
New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I
Seddon Park, Hamilton
12:30 PM
New Zealand vs India head-to-head in T20I cricket
India have won 19 of their 33 T20I meetings against New Zealand, while the Black Caps have registered 11 victories, with 3 matches ending in a tie.
New Zealand vs India T20I series squads
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Adam Milne, Bevon Jacobs, Blair Tickner, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Finn Allen (wicket-keeper), Glenn Phillips (wicket-keeper), Jacob Duffy, Josh Clarkson, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Tim Seifert (wicket-keeper), Zak Foulkes.
