The reigning T20 World Cup champions open a long tour of New Zealand on Thursday, 22 October. India face Mitchell Santner’s side at Hagley Oval in Christchurch in the first of five T20Is, with five ODIs and two Tests still to come. It is also a rematch of the March final in Ahmedabad, where India won by 96 runs. This preview covers the match details, form, squads, probable XIs, key players, conditions, and a prediction.
Match Details
The key facts for the series opener:
- Fixture: New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I of five
- Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026
- Start time: 8:00 PM NZDT (12:30 PM IST), a night match
- Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- Captains: Mitchell Santner (New Zealand), Shreyas Iyer (India)
- Broadcast: Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV in India, Sky Sport NZ in New Zealand, and Willow in the USA and Canada
The T20I series moves to Christchurch again on 24 October, then to Wellington on 27 October, Auckland on 30 October, and Hamilton on 1 November.
Head-to-Head and Recent Form
India lead the T20I record against New Zealand, winning 17 of 31 matches, with 11 wins for New Zealand and three ties. Two more meetings were abandoned. In New Zealand itself, India have won five of 12 T20Is, and they have not lost one in the country since 2019. India have never played a T20I at Hagley Oval.
India arrive off a mixed series. The West Indies drew the five-match T20I series 2-2 after the Bengaluru decider was washed out, which ended India’s 12-series winning streak at home. India did win the ODI series 2-1. Iyer took over the T20I captaincy in June and scored his maiden T20I century in the Lucknow opener. The World Cup win over these same opponents still looms large, with Sanju Samson hitting 89 off 46 balls in the 255 for 5.
New Zealand lost the home T20I series to South Africa 3-2 in March, and they have lost their last two completed T20Is at Hagley Oval, to England in October 2025 and to South Africa. They also suffered a late injury blow: Mark Chapman (hamstring) and Zak Foulkes (hip flexor) are out of the T20I series.
India Team News and Probable XI
India named a 16-man squad with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. The big story is Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return after nearly four years, since he last played a T20I in November 2022. His swing could matter in New Zealand conditions.
The India squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav.
A projected XI from that group reads as follows:
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Shreyas Iyer (c)
- Tilak Varma
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Arshdeep Singh
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Kuldeep Yadav
New Zealand Team News and Probable XI
Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner replaced the injured pair in the squad. Chapman is expected to be fit for the ODIs, but no return date is set for Foulkes.
The New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway (wk), Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Nathan Smith, and Blair Tickner.
A projected XI could look like this:
- Finn Allen
- Devon Conway (wk)
- Tim Seifert (wk)
- Glenn Phillips
- Daryl Mitchell
- Michael Bracewell
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Matt Henry
- Lockie Ferguson
- Kyle Jamieson
- Jacob Duffy
Both XIs are projections. Teams are confirmed at the toss.
Key Players to Watch
A few names stand out:
- Abhishek Sharma (India): He hit 52 off 21 balls in the World Cup final and opens with Samson.
- Sanju Samson (India): He was Player of the Tournament at the World Cup.
- Arshdeep Singh (India): He took a five-wicket haul in an India-New Zealand T20I earlier this year, the only fifer in the history of the fixture.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India): His return adds swing and experience to a young pace group.
- Tim Seifert (New Zealand): He top-scored with 52 in the World Cup final.
- Mitchell Santner (New Zealand): The captain leads from the front with left-arm spin.
- Glenn Phillips (New Zealand): His all-round skills give the side a different gear in the middle overs.
Pitch and Conditions
Hagley Oval has been tricky for first-innings totals. Chasing sides have won eight of the 14 completed T20Is there, and captains who won the toss chose to field in 11 of 15 matches. The average first-innings score is about 162. Check the local forecast and the pitch report before the toss.
Match Prediction
India are slight favourites. They have the better batting depth, a stronger recent record in New Zealand, and the confidence of a World Cup win over this opposition. Hagley Oval narrows the gap, though. The conditions help the home pace attack of Henry, Duffy, Ferguson, and Jamieson, and India’s new-look bowling group has less experience here.
Three factors could decide it:
- How India’s top order handles the new ball in cooler, helpful conditions.
- Whether Bhuvneshwar and Arshdeep find early movement.
- The toss, since the chasing side has the edge at this ground.
Expect a closer game than the World Cup final suggested.
Conclusion
India open the tour as slight favourites, and the reasons are easy to see. They are the reigning T20 World Cup champions, their batting runs deep, and they have not lost a T20I in New Zealand since 2019. Hagley Oval changes the picture, though. The home pace attack of Henry, Duffy, Ferguson, and Jamieson will test a top order that has never played a T20I at this ground, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s first T20I in nearly four years adds an interesting twist to India’s seam options. With the chasing side winning more often here, the toss could matter as much as the first six overs.
The series moves straight back to Christchurch on 24 October before heading to Wellington, Auckland, and Hamilton, so every result from this opener will shape the next four games. PB77, brings cricket fans match previews and predictions throughout the season, along with sports betting markets on cricket and other sports.
FAQs
When is the India vs New Zealand 1st T20I?
The match takes place on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at 8:00 PM NZDT. That is 12:30 PM IST, and the venue is Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Who captains each team?
Shreyas Iyer leads India. Mitchell Santner captains New Zealand.
Where can I watch the match in India?
Sony Sports Network shows the series, and SonyLIV carries the live stream. Check local listings in other regions.
Which New Zealand players are missing?
Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes are out injured. Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner replaced them in the squad.
How many T20Is are in the series?
There are five, in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, and Hamilton. The tour also includes five ODIs and two Tests.