India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will play the five-match T20I sequence towards New Zealand forward of the much-awaited T20 World Cup 2026. The opening match is scheduled to happen on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, on the Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation Stadium, the place the hosts will look to make an early assertion.
India enter into the match with momentum after an unbeaten Asia Cup run, a 2-1 sequence win in Australia, and a commanding 3-1 residence sequence victory over South Africa. In the meantime, New Zealand won’t be simple opponents. They arrive after a strong 3-1 sequence win towards the West Indies with a well-balanced squad.
This text covers the IND vs NZ first T20I with particulars on the match preview, reside streaming choices, pitch and climate situations, head-to-head statistics, and key information.
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IND vs NZ 1st T20I Preview:
Date and Venue:
Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation Stadium in Nagpur will host the sequence opener between India and New Zealand on Wednesday, January 21.
Squads:
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, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi, Kristian Clarke (first three T20Is)
IND vs NZ Possible XIs:
India Taking part in 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 Taking part in 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
IND vs NZ Key battles:
Abhishek Sharma vs Jacob Duffy
Abhishek’s aggressive method on the prime shall be examined by Jacob Duffy, who can swing the ball early and hit good lengths. If Duffy finds motion with the brand new ball, he can bother Abhishek’s attacking strokes.
Abhishek Sharma has been certainly one of India’s standout performers in T20Is in latest instances. In 2025, the left-handed opener scored 859 runs at a median of 42.95 and a strike charge of 193.46, together with 5 half-centuries and a century. He stays a serious menace to New Zealand on the prime of the order.
Duffy loved an distinctive 2025 throughout codecs. The New Zealand pacer picked up 35 wickets from 21 T20Is at an impressive common of 15.08, the perfect amongst full-member staff pacers with not less than 20 wickets. He additionally maintained an financial system charge of seven.47 and registered three four-wicket hauls.
Varun Chakravarthy vs Daryl Mitchell
Varun Chakravarthy’s thriller spin shall be a key problem for Daryl Mitchell within the center overs. Chakravarthy depends on his variations to power errors, whereas Mitchell prefers to make use of his robust base and clear hitting to tackle spinners.
The thriller spinner topped India’s wicket charts within the format final 12 months, taking 36 wickets from 20 matches at a median of 13.19 and an financial system charge of seven.08. He begins the sequence because the highest-ranked T20I bowler, trying to construct additional on his robust numbers.
Mitchell delivered dominant performances within the ODI sequence towards India, the place he registered scores of 84, 131*, and 137. Identified for dealing with spin properly, Mitchell is anticipated to play a key position within the center overs. Nonetheless, his T20I file in India is much less convincing, with 138 runs at a median of 27.60.
Axar Patel vs Mark Chapman
One other necessary contest is Axar Patel’s left-arm spin towards Mark Chapman. Patel brings expertise and consistency to India’s spin assault, having taken 82 wickets in 85 T20I matches at an financial system charge of round 7.24 and a median near 21.92, whereas additionally contributing helpful runs with the bat.
Chapman has scored closely in T20Is, with practically 1,890 runs at a median of round 26.6 and a strike charge above 135, together with a century and 10 half-centuries within the format.
Patel’s potential to bowl tight strains and decide up key wickets will check Chapman’s method towards spin. Axar can keep stress with accuracy, however Chapman has the ability to counter spin successfully and shift momentum for New Zealand.
IND vs NZ Key Gamers:
India – Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand – Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi
IND vs NZ Free Stay Streaming in India, Stay Telecast:
TV Rights in India
Star Sports activities Community holds the tv broadcast rights for the IND vs NZ T20I sequence in India.
Stay Streaming Platform in India:
The matches shall be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and web site. A subscription is required for on-line viewing.
When will the match happen?
The match shall be performed on Wednesday, January 21.
The place will the match be performed?
The sport will happen on the Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation Stadium.
Methods to watch the reside telecast of the IND vs NZ 1st T20I on tv?
Followers can watch the match reside on the Star Sports activities Community channels.
Methods to reside stream the match between India and New Zealand on cell on-line?
The match could be streamed reside on the JioHotstar app and web site with a legitimate subscription.
IND vs NZ 1st T20I Climate Report, Pitch Report of Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation Stadium
IND vs NZ Climate Report of Nagpur:
Match situations in Nagpur are anticipated to stay excellent for cricket. The night needs to be comfy, with clear skies and no rain predicted, permitting the total match to be accomplished with none weather-related delays.
IND vs NZ Pitch Report of Nagpur:
The floor on the Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation Stadium has a repute for high-scoring T20 video games. Batters are more likely to get pleasure from good bounce, whereas bowlers could discover some early swing. Dew is anticipated to play a job within the second innings, which might affect groups to bowl first after profitable the toss.
India have gained three of the 5 T20Is performed at this venue. Though the pitch has normally provided a balanced contest, latest matches have seen extra bounce together with some help for spinners. The newest T20I was performed at this floor in 2022, when India beat Australia by six wickets.
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Information:
| Stats | Matches | IND Gained | NZ Gained | Draw | Tied | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 25 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| In India | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| In New Zealand | 10 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Impartial Venues | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final 5 T20Is | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Information: Key Statistics
India and New Zealand have performed 25 T20 Internationals towards one another to this point. The Males in Blue maintain a slight total benefit, particularly in residence situations.
At residence, India have gained 9 matches in comparison with New Zealand’s three. New Zealand, nevertheless, have carried out higher in their very own situations and have additionally delivered main outcomes previously, together with knocking India out of the 2021 T20 World Cup.
India additionally personal the best staff whole on this rivalry, scoring 234/4 in 2023. New Zealand’s finest performances have typically come via disciplined, pressure-handling efforts relatively than explosive scoring.
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Information: The Final 5 Matches
Current encounters present a slender benefit for India. Within the final 5 T20Is between the 2 sides, India have gained three matches, whereas New Zealand have gained one.
In February 2023, India defeated New Zealand by 168 runs, one of many largest profitable margins in T20I cricket. In one other match, India accomplished a chase with only one ball remaining. Total, India have a tendency to regulate the competition at residence, however New Zealand proceed to point out they’ll problem and trigger upsets.
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Information- Results of the final 5 video games:
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India gained by 168 runs in Ahmedabad on February 1, 2023
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India gained by 6 wickets in Lucknow on January 29, 2023
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New Zealand gained by 21 runs in Ranchi on January 27, 2023
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Match tied in Napier on November 22, 2022
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India gained by 65 runs in Mount Maunganui on November 20, 2022
IND vs NZ – Conclusion:
India enter the opening T20I with robust momentum, a well-settled facet, latest success, and residential benefit. Their depth in each batting and bowling provides them an edge in dealing with stress conditions.
New Zealand have the standard to problem, particularly in the event that they execute their plans properly. With the Nagpur pitch anticipated to help batters early and spinners later, the competition needs to be aggressive. Total, situations and up to date kind barely favour India, however New Zealand stay able to beating India.
The upcoming ICC Males’s T20 World Cup shall be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian facet will take the sequence as a key alternative to evaluate mixtures and readiness forward of the worldwide match. Notably, the Males in Blue gained the T20 World Cup in 2024.
Additionally learn: Virat Kohli-hunter added to New Zealand T20I squad; Kiwis panic over Michael Bracewell, Adam Milne’s accidents
