India vs New Zealand T20Is: World Cup prep begins with high-octane clash in Nagpur
India enter the T20I leg of the New Zealand tour as they begin a five-match T20I series in Nagpur. Suryakumar Yadav’s men look to build momentum, while a confident Black Caps side aim to extend their dominance on Indian soil.
21 January, 2026
Share
India will look to quickly shift gears as they turn their focus to the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting Wednesday, January 21, in Nagpur, following a 2-1 ODI series setback to the Black Caps.
The series carries added significance with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7.
With the global showpiece fast approaching, the T20Is offer both sides a crucial platform to fine-tune combinations and build momentum.
Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Men in Blue with intent, aiming to set the tone early and make a strong statement in the series opener.
India enter the contest in a confident mood after clinching a 3-1 T20I series win against South Africa in December, with SKY leading from the front.
New Zealand, meanwhile, arrive high on confidence after scripting history with their first-ever ODI series win on Indian soil. As they continue their own World Cup preparations, the visitors will be keen to carry that winning momentum into the shortest format.
India, however, received a major boost with the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. The star quick will be eager to hit top gear straight away after picking up four wickets in three T20Is against South Africa, while also boasting the best economy rate among all fast bowlers at 7.18.
Adding to India’s bowling firepower is mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who makes his return after a stellar outing against the Proteas. Chakravarthy claimed 10 wickets in four matches in that series while maintaining an impressive economy of 7.46, making him a key threat against the Black Caps’ batting lineup.
From our Gujarat Titans contingent, Washington Sundar was part of the squad earlier but was forced to withdraw due to a side strain. The all-rounder will be hoping for a swift recovery as he targets full fitness ahead of the T20 World Cup.
For New Zealand, Glenn Phillips stands out as one of the Titans players to watch. His gritty century in the third ODI proved decisive in sealing the series for the visitors and he will once again be central to their plans as the T20I series gets underway.
With World Cup stakes in the background and momentum on the line, the stage is set for a high-octane T20I battle between two well-matched sides.
India vs New Zealand T20I 2026 schedule and live match start times
All times are in India Standard Time (IST)
Day and Date
Match
Venue
Time (IST)
Wednesday, January 21
1st T20I
Vidarbha International Cricket Stadium, Nagpur
07:00 PM
Friday, January 23
2nd T20I
Nava Raipur International Cricket Stadium, Raipur
07:00 PM
Sunday, January 25
3rd T20I
Assam Cricket Association Stadium, Guwahati
07:00 PM
Wednesday, January 28
4th T20I
ACA–VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam
07:00 PM
Sunday, January 31
5th T20I
Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
07:00 PM
India vs New Zealand head-to-head record in T20Is
India and New Zealand have played 25 T20 Internationals (T20Is) against each other so far. India have registered 14 victories, while the Kiwis have recorded 10 wins while one match ended in a tie.
The last time these two sides met in the similar format, India secured a 2-1 series win over New Zealand in 2023.
New Zealand’s T20I squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Devon Conway (wicket-keeper), Bevon Jacobs, Tim Robinson, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Zak Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi
Upcoming milestones to keep an eye on
Suryakumar Yadav needs 25 runs to reach 9000 runs in T20s.
Varun Chakravarthy needs 45 wickets to reach 100 wickets in T20Is.
Hardik Pandya needs 27 runs to score 200 runs against New Zealand in T20Is.
Abhishek Sharma is 885 runs away from scoring 2000 T20I runs.
Where to watch India vs New Zealand 1st T20I live
The India vs New Zealand T20I 2026 series will be telecast live on Star Sports Network’s TV channels.
Live streaming of the IND vs NZ T20I 2026 series will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.
