India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will play a 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, with the hosts looking to make an early statement.
India are going into the match with momentum after an unbeaten performance in the Asia Cup, a 2-1 series win in Australia and a 3-1 home series win over South Africa. Meanwhile, New Zealand will not be an easy opponent. They have arrived with a balanced team after winning the series 3-1 against West Indies.
This article covers IND vs NZ 1st T20I with details of match preview, live streaming options, pitch and weather conditions, head-to-head statistics and key records.
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I Preview:
Date and Place:
The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur will host the opening match of the series between India and New Zealand on Wednesday, January 21.
Squad:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakraborty, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravi Bishnoi.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Jack Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi, Christian Clarke (first three T20Is)
India vs New Zealand Probable XI:
India’s playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakraborty, 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
India vs New Zealand Major Matches:
Abhishek Sharma vs Jacob Duffy
Abhishek’s aggressive approach at the top will be tested by Jacob Duffy, who can swing the ball quickly and hit it at a good length. If Duffy gets movement with the new ball, he can trouble Abhishek’s aggressive strokes.
Abhishek Sharma has been one of India’s standout performers in T20Is in recent times. In 2025, the left-handed opening batsman scored 859 runs at an average of 42.95 and a strike rate of 193.46, which included five half-centuries and one century. He remains a big threat for New Zealand at the top order.
Duffy enjoyed an exceptional 2025 across all formats. The New Zealand fast bowler took 35 wickets in 21 T20Is at an excellent average of 15.08, the best among full-member team fast bowlers with at least 20 wickets. He also maintained an economy rate of 7.47 and took four wickets thrice.
Varun Chakraborty vs Daryl Mitchell
Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin in the middle overs will be a significant challenge for Daryl Mitchell. Chakravarthy relies on his variations to force mistakes, while Mitchell prefers to use his strong base and clean hitting to face the spinners.
The mystery spinner topped India’s wicket charts in this format last year, taking 36 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 13.19 and an economy rate of 7.08. He starts the series as the highest-ranked T20I bowler, and will be looking to build on his strong numbers.
Mitchell had an impressive performance in the ODI series against India, where he recorded scores of 84, 131* and 137. Mitchell, known to handle spin well, is expected to play a key role in the middle overs. However, his T20I record in India is less reliable, with 138 runs at an average of 27.60.
Akshar 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 7.24 and an average of around 21.92, while also scoring useful runs with the bat.
Chapman has scored heavily in T20Is with nearly 1,890 runs at an average of 26.6 and a strike rate above 135, including one century and 10 half-centuries in the format.
Patel’s ability to bowl a tight line and take important wickets will test Chapman’s technique against spin. Axar can maintain the pressure with accuracy, but Chapman has the skills to counter spin effectively and change the pace for New Zealand.
India vs New Zealand Key Players:
India – Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Varun Chakraborty, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand – Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi
IND vs NZ Free Live Streaming, Live Telecast in India:
TV rights in India
Star Sports Network holds the television broadcast rights of the IND vs NZ T20I series in India.
Live Streaming Platforms in India:
The matches will be live-streamed on JioHotstar app and website. Subscription required for online viewing.
When will the match happen?
This match will be played on Wednesday 21 January.
Where will the match be played?
This game will be held at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
How to watch live telecast of IND vs NZ 1st T20I on television?
Fans can watch the match live on Star Sports Network channels.
How to live stream the match between India and New Zealand online on mobile?
The match can be live streamed on JioHotstar app and website with a valid subscription.
IND vs NZ 1st T20I Weather Report, Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium Pitch Report
India vs New Zealand Nagpur weather report:
The match conditions in Nagpur are expected to be ideal for cricket. The evening should be comfortable, with clear skies and no rain predicted, allowing the entire match to be completed without any weather-related delays.
India vs New Zealand Nagpur Pitch Report:
The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium surface is famous for high-scoring T20 games. The batsmen are likely to get good bounce, while the bowlers may get some early swing. Dew is expected to play a role in the second innings, which may influence teams to bowl first after winning the toss.
India have won three of the five T20 matches played at this venue. Although the pitch generally offers a balanced contest, recent matches have seen more bounce as well as some assistance for the spinners. The most recent T20I was played at this ground in 2022, when India defeated Australia by six wickets.
India vs New Zealand head-to-head records:
| statistics | Matchbox | IND won | New Zealand won | Drag | Tied up | N.R. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 space | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| last 5 t20i | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
India vs New Zealand head-to-head records: key stats
India and New Zealand have played 25 T20 International matches against each other so far. Men in blue have a slight edge overall, especially in domestic situations.
At home, India has won nine matches compared to New Zealand’s three. However, New Zealand have performed better in their conditions and have produced big results in the past, including knocking India out of the 2021 T20 World Cup.
India owns the highest team score in this rivalry by scoring 234/4 in 2023. New Zealand’s best performances have often come through disciplined, pressure-handling efforts rather than explosive scoring.
India vs New Zealand head-to-head records: last 5 matches
India seems to be getting minor gains from the recent encounters. In the last five T20 matches between the two sides, India have won three matches, while New Zealand has won one match.
In February 2023, India defeated New Zealand by 168 runs, one of the largest winning margins in T20I cricket. In another match, India completed the chase with one ball remaining. Overall, India control the contest on home soil, but New Zealand have consistently shown that they can challenge and cause upsets.
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Records – Last 5 Matches Results:
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India won by 168 runs in Ahmedabad on 1 February 2023
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India won by 6 wickets in Lucknow on 29 January 2023
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New Zealand won by 21 runs in Ranchi on 27 January 2023
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Match tied in Napier on 22 November 2022
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India won by 65 runs at Mount Maunganui on November 20, 2022
India vs New Zealand – Conclusion:
India go into the opening T20 match with strong momentum, a well-established team, 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. The Nagpur pitch is expected to help the batsmen first and the spinners second, so the match should be competitive. Overall the conditions and recent form are slightly in favor of India, but New Zealand is capable of defeating India.
The upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7. Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian team will take this series as an important opportunity to assess the combination and preparations ahead of the global tournament. Notably, the Men in Blue won the T20 World Cup in 2024.
Also read: Virat Kohli-Shikari included in New Zealand T20I squad; Kiwi team worried due to injuries of Michael Bracewell, Adam Milne
