The India vs New Zealand T20I series 2026 kicks off on October 22, featuring five matches across four venues. Shreyas Iyer leads India, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Chakaravarthy making comebacks. Mitchell Santner captains New Zealand. Matches start at 12:30 PM IST, with live coverage on Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV.
Indian cricket has hardly had a moment to pause. On October 3, Shreyas Iyer led India to a 19-run win over Pakistan in Nisshin to retain the men's Asian Games cricket gold, and just three days later, he returned to the T20I setup in Lucknow, scoring his maiden international century as India beat West Indies by eight wickets in the first match of the five-game series.
The next challenge is already lined up, with the India vs New Zealand T20I series 2026 set to begin on October 22. Iyer will lead a 16-member squad that sees the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, while Mitchell Santner will captain New Zealand across five matches in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton.
Here is everything you need to know about the India vs New Zealand T20I series 2026, including the full schedule, match timings, venues, squads and live streaming details.
The India vs New Zealand T20I series will be played from October 22 to November 1, 2026, with all five matches scheduled to begin at 12:30 PM IST. The series will travel across four venues in New Zealand, with the first two games at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, followed by matches in Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton.
Fans in India can watch the India vs New Zealand T20I series online through SonyLIV. The streaming coverage will include all five matches, allowing viewers to follow the series live across devices.
The India vs New Zealand T20I matches will be available on the Sony Sports Network in India. The complete five-match series will be televised live, with every game scheduled for a 12:30 PM IST start.
Shreyas Iyer will captain India, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain. The squad includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Mitchell Santner will lead the Blackcaps. The squad features Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, and Nathan Smith.
1st T20I: Thursday, October 22, 2026 – Hagley Oval, Christchurch (12:30 PM IST / 8:00 PM Local)
2nd T20I: Saturday, October 24, 2026 – Hagley Oval, Christchurch (12:30 PM IST / 8:00 PM Local)
3rd T20I: Tuesday, October 27, 2026 – Wellington (12:30 PM IST / 8:00 PM Local)
4th T20I: Friday, October 30, 2026 – Eden Park, Auckland (12:30 PM IST / 8:00 PM Local)
5th T20I: Sunday, November 1, 2026 – Seddon Park, Hamilton (12:30 PM IST / 8:00 PM Local)
India and New Zealand have faced each other 29 times in Men's T20Is. India holds a slight edge with 14 wins, while New Zealand has won 13 matches (with 2 ending in a tie/no result).
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | 5-match T20I series |
| Dates | October 22-November 1, 2026 |
| India Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| New Zealand Captain | Mitchell Santner |
| Match Time | 12:30 PM IST |
| Live Telecast | Sony Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | SonyLIV |
When does the India vs New Zealand T20I series 2026 begin?
The five-match India vs New Zealand T20I series begins on October 22, 2026, and runs until November 1, 2026.
Who is India's captain for the New Zealand T20I series?
Shreyas Iyer will captain India's 16-member T20I squad.
Who is captaining New Zealand?
Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand in the five-match T20I series.
Where can I watch India vs New Zealand T20I matches live in India?
The matches will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on SonyLIV.
What time will India vs New Zealand T20I matches start?
All five matches are scheduled to begin at 12:30 PM IST, or 8:00 PM local time in New Zealand.