Suryakumar Yadav-led India will play a five-match T20I collection in opposition to New Zealand forward of the much-awaited T20 World Cup 2026. The opening match is scheduled to be held on the Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation Stadium on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, and the hosts will purpose to make an early announcement there.
India go into the match using excessive on momentum after an unbeaten run within the Asia Cup, a 2-1 collection win in Australia and a powerful 3-1 win within the dwelling collection in opposition to South Africa. However, it won’t be a straightforward opponent for New Zealand. They arrive after profitable the collection 3-1 in opposition to West Indies with a balanced group.
This text covers the primary T20I between IND vs NZ with particulars on match preview, dwell streaming choices, pitch and climate situations, head-to-head outcomes and key notes.
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IND vs NZ 1st T20I Preview:
Date and venue:
The Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation Stadium in Nagpur will host the collection opener between India and New Zealand on Wednesday, January 21.
squad:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vc), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravi Bishnoi.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zach Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamison, Bevon Jacobs, Darryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi, Christian Clarke (first three T20Is)
IND vs NZ anticipated eleven:
India enjoying XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand gamers: Devon Conway (wk), Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Darryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamison, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy
IND vs NZ major battles:
Abhishek Sharma vs Jacob Duffy
Abhishek’s aggressive strategy on the prime will likely be examined by Jacob Duffy, who can swing the ball early and hit it for lengthy distances. If Duffy finds some motion with the brand new ball, it may disrupt Abhishek’s attacking strokes.
Abhishek Sharma has been certainly one of India’s standout performers in current T20Is. In 2025, the left-handed opener scored 859 runs at a mean of 42.95 and a strike price of 193.46, together with 5 half-centuries and a century. He stays a significant risk for New Zealand on the prime of the pecking order.
Duffy had a fantastic 2025 in quite a lot of codecs. The New Zealand pacer took 35 wickets from 21 T20Is at a wonderful common of 15.08. That is the very best amongst pacers in a full-member group with no less than 20 wickets. He additionally maintained an financial system price of seven.47 and recorded three four-wicket hauls.
Varun Chakravarthy vs Darryl Mitchell
Varun Chakravarthy’s thriller spin will likely be a key problem for Daryl Mitchell within the center overs. Whereas Chakravarthy depends on variations to induce errors, Mitchell prefers to make use of his sturdy base and clear batting to tackle spinners.
The thriller spinner topped India’s wicket charts on this format final 12 months, taking 36 wickets in 20 matches at a mean of 13.19 and an financial system price of seven.08. He began the collection because the highest-ranked T20I bowler and will likely be seeking to construct on his sturdy numbers.
Mitchell had a dominant efficiency within the ODI collection in opposition to India, posting scores of 84, 131* and 137. Recognized for his skill to deal with spin, Mitchell is anticipated to play a key position within the center overs. Nevertheless, his T20I efficiency in India is just not very convincing with 138 runs at a mean of 27.60.
Axar Patel vs Mark Chapman
One other necessary match was Axar Patel’s left-arm spin in opposition to Mark Chapman. Patel introduced expertise and stability to India’s spin assault, taking 82 wickets in 85 T20I matches, profitable at an financial system price of round 7.24 and a mean of almost 21.92, whereas additionally contributing helpful runs with the bat.
Chapman has been a prolific scorer in T20Is, with almost 1,890 runs at a mean of round 26.6 and a strike price of over 135, together with one century and 10 half-centuries within the format.
Patel’s skill to bowl tight strains and decide up necessary wickets will take a look at Chapman’s method in opposition to spin. Axar can preserve strain with precision, however Chapman has the ability to counterspin successfully and alter New Zealand’s momentum.
Key gamers for IND vs NZ:
India – Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarty, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
new zealand – Glenn Phillips, Darryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi
IND vs NZ Free Stay Streaming, Stay TV Broadcast in India:
Tv rights in India
Star Sports activities Community holds the tv rights for the IND vs NZ T20I collection in India.
Stay streaming platforms in India:
The match will likely be dwell streamed on JioHotstar app and web site. Membership registration is required for on-line viewing.
When will the match be performed?
The match will happen on Wednesday, January twenty first.
The place will the match be held?
The match will likely be performed on the Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation Stadium.
The way to watch IND vs NZ 1st T20I dwell broadcast on TV?
Followers can watch the match dwell on Star Sports activities Community channels.
How can I dwell stream the India vs New Zealand match on cellular on-line?
With a legitimate subscription, the match will be streamed dwell on the JioHotstar app and web site.
IND vs NZ 1st T20I Climate Report, Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation Stadium Pitch Report
IND vs NZ Nagpur climate forecast:
Match situations in Nagpur are anticipated to stay best for cricket. The night is anticipated to be nice, with clear skies and no rain anticipated, permitting the sport to be accomplished with none climate delays.
Nagpur IND vs NZ pitch report:
The Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation Stadium floor has a status for high-scoring T20 video games. Batters are prone to take pleasure in good bounce and bowlers are prone to discover an early swing. Dew is anticipated to play a task within the second innings and will affect which group bowls first after profitable the toss.
India gained three of the 5 T20Is performed at this venue. Normally the pitch affords a balanced struggle, however current matches have seen extra bounce together with spinner assist. The newest T20I was performed at this floor in 2022, the place India defeated Australia by six wickets.
IND vs. NZ match outcomes:
| statistics | match | IND gained | new zealand gained | draw | tied up | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| entire | twenty 5 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| in india | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| in new zealand | 10 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| impartial venue | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final 5 T20Is | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
IND vs NZ head-to-head report: Key statistics
India and New Zealand have performed one another 25 occasions in T20 Internationals to date. The Males in Blue have a slight edge total, particularly in dwelling situations.
India have gained 9 matches at dwelling, whereas New Zealand have gained three. Nevertheless, New Zealand have carried out higher in their very own situations and have had nice outcomes up to now, together with knocking India out of the 2021 T20 World Cup.
India additionally had the very best complete group rating on this rivalry, scoring 234/4 in 2023. New Zealand’s finest performances typically come from a disciplined effort to take care of strain, somewhat than explosive scoring.
IND vs NZ Match Document: Final 5 matches
Latest matches have proven India to have a slender benefit. Within the final 5 T20Is between the 2 nations, India has gained three and New Zealand has gained one.
In February 2023, India defeated New Zealand by 168 runs, one of many largest margins of victory in T20I cricket. In one other match, India accomplished the chase with only one ball to spare. General, India have a tendency to manage matches at dwelling, however New Zealand continues to point out they’ll problem and trigger an upset.
IND vs NZ head-to-head outcomes – outcomes of the final 5 matches:
February 1, 2023, India wins by 168 runs in Ahmedabad
India win by 6 wickets in Lucknow, January 29, 2023
New Zealand win by 21 factors at Ranchi on January 27, 2023
Match drawn at Napier on twenty second November 2022
November 20, 2022, India wins by 65 factors at Mt Maunganui
IND vs NZ – Conclusion:
India go into the opening T20I with sturdy momentum, a steady group, current successes and residential benefit. Their depth in each batting and bowling offers them an edge in coping with strain conditions.
New Zealand has what it takes to tackle the problem, particularly in the event that they execute their plan properly. The competition needs to be aggressive as Nagpur’s pitch is anticipated to assist the batsmen early on and the spinners afterward. General, the situations and up to date type favor India barely, however New Zealand can nonetheless beat India.
The upcoming ICC Males’s T20 World Cup will likely be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7. Suryakumar Yadav’s Indian facet will see this collection as an necessary alternative to evaluate their mixture and preparation for the world match. Notably, the Males in Blue gained the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Additionally learn: Virat Kohli Hunter added to New Zealand T20I squad; New Zealanders panic over accidents to Michael Bracewell and Adam Milne
