India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will play the five-match T20I series against New Zealand ahead of the much-awaited T20 World Cup 2026. The opening match is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, where the hosts will look to make an early statement.
India enter into the match with momentum after an unbeaten Asia Cup run, a 2-1 series win in Australia, and a commanding 3-1 home series victory over South Africa. Meanwhile, New Zealand will not be easy opponents. They arrive after a solid 3-1 series win against the West Indies with a well-balanced squad.
This article covers the IND vs NZ first T20I with details on the match preview, live streaming options, pitch and weather conditions, head-to-head statistics, and key records.
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IND vs NZ 1st T20I Preview:
Date and Venue:
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur will host the series opener between India and New Zealand on Wednesday, January 21.
Squads:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vc), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravi Bishnoi
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi, Kristian Clarke (first three T20Is)
IND vs NZ Probable XIs:
India Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand Playing XI: Devon Conway (wk), Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy
IND vs NZ Key battles:
Abhishek Sharma vs Jacob Duffy
Abhishek’s aggressive approach at the top will be tested by Jacob Duffy, who can swing the ball early and hit good lengths. If Duffy finds movement with the new ball, he can trouble Abhishek’s attacking strokes.
Abhishek Sharma has been one of India’s standout performers in T20Is in recent times. In 2025, the left-handed opener scored 859 runs at an average of 42.95 and a strike rate of 193.46, including five half-centuries and a century. He remains a major threat to New Zealand at the top of the order.
Duffy enjoyed an exceptional 2025 across formats. The New Zealand pacer picked up 35 wickets from 21 T20Is at an outstanding average of 15.08, the best among full-member team pacers with at least 20 wickets. He also maintained an economy rate of 7.47 and registered three four-wicket hauls.
Varun Chakravarthy vs Daryl Mitchell
Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin will be a key challenge for Daryl Mitchell in the middle overs. Chakravarthy relies on his variations to force errors, while Mitchell prefers to use his strong base and clean hitting to take on spinners.
The mystery spinner topped India’s wicket charts in the format last year, taking 36 wickets from 20 matches at an average of 13.19 and an economy rate of 7.08. He begins the series as the highest-ranked T20I bowler, looking to build further on his strong numbers.
Mitchell delivered dominant performances in the ODI series against India, where he registered scores of 84, 131*, and 137. Known for handling spin well, Mitchell is expected to play a key role in the middle overs. However, his T20I record in India is less convincing, with 138 runs at an average of 27.60.
Axar Patel vs Mark Chapman
Another important contest is Axar Patel’s left-arm spin against Mark Chapman. Patel brings experience and consistency to India’s spin attack, having taken 82 wickets in 85 T20I matches at an economy rate of around 7.24 and an average close to 21.92, while also contributing useful runs with the bat.
Chapman has scored heavily in T20Is, with nearly 1,890 runs at an average of around 26.6 and a strike rate above 135, including a century and 10 half-centuries in the format.
Patel’s ability to bowl tight lines and pick up key wickets will test Chapman’s technique against spin. Axar can maintain pressure with accuracy, but Chapman has the skill to counter spin effectively and shift momentum for New Zealand.
IND vs NZ Key Players:
India – Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand – Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi
IND vs NZ Free Live Streaming in India, Live Telecast:
TV Rights in India
Star Sports Network holds the television broadcast rights for the IND vs NZ T20I series in India.
Live Streaming Platform in India:
The matches will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website. A subscription is required for online viewing.
When will the match take place?
The match will be played on Wednesday, January 21.
Where will the match be played?
The game will take place at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
How to watch the live telecast of the IND vs NZ 1st T20I on television?
Fans can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network channels.
How to live stream the match between India and New Zealand on mobile online?
The match can be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website with a valid subscription.
IND vs NZ 1st T20I Weather Report, Pitch Report of Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium
IND vs NZ Weather Report of Nagpur:
Match conditions in Nagpur are expected to remain ideal for cricket. The evening should be comfortable, with clear skies and no rain predicted, allowing the full match to be completed without any weather-related delays.
IND vs NZ Pitch Report of Nagpur:
The surface at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium has a reputation for high-scoring T20 games. Batters are likely to enjoy good bounce, while bowlers may find some early swing. Dew is expected to play a role in the second innings, which could influence teams to bowl first after winning the toss.
India have won three of the five T20Is played at this venue. Although the pitch has usually offered a balanced contest, recent matches have seen more bounce along with some assistance for spinners. The most recent T20I was played at this ground in 2022, when India beat Australia by six wickets.
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Records:
| Stats | Matches | IND Won | NZ Won | Draw | Tied | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 25 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| In India | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| In New Zealand | 10 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Neutral Venues | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Last 5 T20Is | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Records: Key Statistics
India and New Zealand have played 25 T20 Internationals against each other so far. The Men in Blue hold a slight overall advantage, especially in home conditions.
At home, India have won nine matches compared to New Zealand’s three. New Zealand, however, have performed better in their own conditions and have also delivered major results in the past, including knocking India out of the 2021 T20 World Cup.
India also own the highest team total in this rivalry, scoring 234/4 in 2023. New Zealand’s best performances have often come through disciplined, pressure-handling efforts rather than explosive scoring.
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Records: The Last 5 Matches
Recent encounters show a narrow advantage for India. In the last five T20Is between the two sides, India have won three matches, while New Zealand have won one.
In February 2023, India defeated New Zealand by 168 runs, one of the largest winning margins in T20I cricket. In another match, India completed a chase with just one ball remaining. Overall, India tend to control the contest at home, but New Zealand continue to show they can challenge and cause upsets.
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Records- Result of the last 5 games:
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India won by 168 runs in Ahmedabad on February 1, 2023
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India won by 6 wickets in Lucknow on January 29, 2023
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New Zealand won by 21 runs in Ranchi on January 27, 2023
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Match tied in Napier on November 22, 2022
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India won by 65 runs in Mount Maunganui on November 20, 2022
IND vs NZ – Conclusion:
India enter the opening T20I with strong momentum, a well-settled side, recent success, and home advantage. Their depth in both batting and bowling gives them an edge in handling pressure situations.
New Zealand have the quality to challenge, especially if they execute their plans well. With the Nagpur pitch expected to support batters early and spinners later, the contest should be competitive. Overall, conditions and recent form slightly favour India, but New Zealand remain capable of beating India.
The upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian side will take the series as a key opportunity to assess combinations and readiness ahead of the global tournament. Notably, the Men in Blue won the T20 World Cup in 2024.
