India is set to kick off its final preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 when Suryakumar Yadav’s team faces New Zealand, captained by Mitchell Santner, in a five-match T20 International series starting on Wednesday, January 21. This series presents the last chance for both teams to refine their strategies before the global tournament. Captain Suryakumar will be eager to regain his batting form ahead of leading the team in their World Cup title defense, which commences on February 7. From powerplays to super overs, every run, wicket, and turning point is captured in real-time. Fans can track current scores, run rates, and projected targets, along with detailed head-to-head comparisons and previous encounter highlights.

With both teams looking to fine-tune their combinations, the battle between India’s formidable batting lineup and the Black Caps’ disciplined bowling unit will be a treat for cricket enthusiasts worldwide. This high-octane white-ball series is set to be a crucial preparation ground for both teams ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Group stage runs January across four pools of 4 teams, with top 2 sides from each group advancing to the Super Six stage.

With India hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will kick off on Saturday, February 7, 2026, the series gains added significance as a key build-up phase. New Zealand will aim to sharpen adaptability and combinations, while both sides field squads blending experienced campaigners with emerging talent ahead of the global tournament. The India men’s team will begin its T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a packed group-stage schedule spread across multiple venues. Here is India’s complete match list, including dates, venues, group details and key fixtures, from the opening game to the knockouts.

Chasing a target of 338, India were bowled out for 296 despite a fighting century from Virat Kohli, who scored 124 off 108 balls. Harshit Rana’s maiden ODI fifty also kept the hosts in the contest, but early wickets and a lack of support cost them the game. Earlier, New Zealand posted 337/8, courtesy of centuries from Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106). India’s bowlers struggled to contain the middle overs, allowing the visitors to build an important partnership.

• New Zealand’s India tour kicks off with a three-match ODI series that promises to deliver world-class cricketing action across some of India’s most iconic venues.
• The cricket schedule is regularly updated to reflect the latest fixtures and match details.
• England tour New Zealand for three T20Is and three ODIs (Oct 18–Nov 1), overlapping with India’s white-ball tour of Australia (3 ODIs from Oct 19–25, 5 T20Is from Oct 29–Nov 8).
• As the Indian cricket team continues its dominance on the global stage, all eyes shift to the upcoming New Zealand Tour of India 2026.
• This high-octane white-ball series is set to be a crucial preparation ground for both teams ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
• With India hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will kick off on Saturday, February 7, 2026, the series gains added significance as a key build-up phase.

India’s dominance in familiar conditions poses a stern challenge for New Zealand, who will be eager to build confidence. New Zealand’s India tour in 2026 is particularly significant for Vadodara, which is set to host its first men’s international match in over 15 years. India and New Zealand will face each other in five T20I matches across different venues in India. October begins with Australia in New Zealand for three T20Is (Oct 1–4), while India host West Indies in two Tests (Oct 2 & 10). England cricket schedule tour New Zealand for three T20Is and three ODIs (Oct 18–Nov 1), overlapping with India’s white-ball tour of Australia (3 ODIs from Oct 19–25, 5 T20Is from Oct 29–Nov 8). Cricket fans are eagerly waiting to see how both sides perform in this crucial encounter.

Both teams have great history in the competition, having won two and one titles, respectively. Zimbabwe host South Africa in a two‑Test series from July 6, followed by a T20I tri‑series involving New Zealand and South Africa in Harare from July 14–26. Pakistan tour Bangladesh for a three‑T20I series starting July 20, while Australia and the West Indies simultaneously clash in a five-match T20I series from July 21–29. Later in the year, India will host the West Indies for another white-ball series, followed by a possible away ODI series against New Zealand in October-November. India’s ODI calendar for 2026 is expected to conclude with a three-match home series against Sri Lanka in December. In total, India is scheduled to play up to six bilateral ODI series in 2026, amounting to a possible 18 ODIs.

IND vs NZ Series calendar 2026 and 2027: match fixtures overview

Semifinals are scheduled on February 3 and 4, while Harare Sports Club hosts the final on February 6. Iyer last participated in a T20I in December 2023 against Australia at home, before being sidelined from India’s plans in this format. He has not played any T20 cricket since last year’s IPL final and also missed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy while recovering from a spleen injury. The batter has returned to domestic cricket in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Mumbai and is currently playing in the ongoing ODI series. Follow ball-by-ball updates, live commentary, and scorecards for all ongoing matches, including detailed stats for batsmen, bowlers, and key partnerships.

WPL 2026 schedule: dates, venues and timings

The tour features a combination of three One-Day Internationals and five Twenty20 Internationals, all hosted on Indian soil. The ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 kicks off on January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia, featuring 16 teams battling through group stages, Super Sixes and the knockout stage on February 6. The entire series will be staged across multiple venues in India, covering different regions of the country. The New Zealand tour of India gets underway on January 11, 2026, with the final fixture scheduled for January 31, 2026. ODI action unfolds on January 11, 14 and 18, with fixtures set in Vadodara, Rajkot and Indore.

Injuries to key players Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar have impacted India’s lineup. Consequently, Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been brought back into the T20 squad after a significant absence. However, Iyer is only available for the first three matches, with Tilak still in the running and not yet ruled out for the rest of the series. After the Afghanistan series, India will tour England in July for a three-match ODI series, starting July 14 at Edgbaston. India’s three-match ODI series against New Zealand concluded on January 18 in Indore with a 41-run defeat in the decider.