The Indian cricket team has arrived in New Zealand ahead of the five-match T20 International series, which begins on October 22, 2026. Christchurch will host the opening two matches as India prepare for their first assignment on the tour.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir was among the team contingent arriving in New Zealand. Fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar and young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi were also seen with the travelling group.
Shreyas Iyer will captain India in the T20I series, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain. The squad combines experienced international players with emerging talent as India prepare to face the Black Caps in their home conditions.
Bhuvneshwar's return to the national T20I side is another notable development ahead of the series, while Sooryavanshi will look to make the most of his opportunity in India's international setup.
India vs New Zealand T20I Series 2026: Full Schedule
The five-match series will run from October 22 to November 1, with matches scheduled across Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton.
Match | Date | Venue | Start time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
1st T20I | October 22, Thursday | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 12:30 PM |
2nd T20I | October 24, Saturday | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 12:30 PM |
3rd T20I | October 27, Tuesday | Wellington | 12:30 PM |
4th T20I | October 30, Friday | Eden Park, Auckland | 12:30 PM |
5th T20I | November 1, Sunday | Seddon Park, Hamilton | 12:30 PM |
All match timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST).
India vs New Zealand: What Comes After the T20Is?
The T20I series is the opening leg of India's multi-format tour of New Zealand. The teams are scheduled to play five ODIs from November 4 to November 15, followed by two Test matches.
The ODI series will begin in Auckland before moving to Wellington, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui. The Test series is scheduled to start in Wellington on November 19, with the second Test beginning in Christchurch on November 27.
The tour will give India opportunities to assess players across formats and build combinations ahead of future international competitions.
India Prepare for the Opening T20I
With the first match approaching, India's immediate focus will be on adapting to New Zealand's conditions and finalising their playing combination.
The opening encounter at Hagley Oval on October 22 will mark the start of the five-match contest. India will aim to begin the series positively, while New Zealand will look to use home conditions to their advantage.
Series:India tour of New Zealand 2026
T20I matches: 5
Series dates: October 22–November 1, 2026
Opening match: New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I
Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Start time: 12:30 PM IST
India captain: Shreyas Iyer
India vice-captain: Tilak Varma
