The India vs New Zealand T20I series is all set to kick off with a five-match tournament starting tomorrow. After a defeat in the three-match ODI series Men in Blue are set to face Black Caps to settle the score for their recent loss. Suryakumar Yadav will take the place of Shubhman Gill as captain for this series, making it their final test right before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Notably, the Indian team have suffered a double blow as Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar remain injured. While Varma is sidelined following a recent abdominal procedure, Sundar is struggling with a side strain.
When and where to watch India vs New Zealand 1st T20I?
The first T20I of the series between India and New Zealand is set for this Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The clash between Men in Blue and Blackcaps at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur will begin at 7:00 PM IST, with the toss expected at 6:30 PM IST.
How can we live-stream India vs New Zealand 1st T20I?
The T20I series between India and New Zealand will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website, and viewers with a subscription can access the full match. Television viewers in India can watch the matches live across the Star Sports Network channels.
VCA Stadium’s history and pitch report
The T20I series between India and New Zealand is set to witness the opening match at Nagpur’s Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium. The ground has been a regular fixture for international cricket since 2009. In 2022, India won against Australia by six wickets, marking it the last match before the upcoming T20 series. Men in blue have a solid record at this venue, securing wins in 3 out of their 5 previous T20I matches.
Pitch Report: The Nagpur pitch is historically known as a balanced surface, which has evolved recently. While it still offers reliable extra bounce for the pacers, it has increasingly provided significant turn for spinners as the game progresses.
India and New Zealand squads for the upcoming T20I series
New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (Captain), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vc), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravi Bishnoi.
India vs New Zealand T20I series full schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
| Wed, Jan 21 | 1st T20I | VCA Stadium, Nagpur | 7:00 PM |
| Fri, Jan 23 | 2nd T20I | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, Raipur | 7:00 PM |
| Sun, Jan 25 | 3rd T20I | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati | 7:00 PM |
| Wed, Jan 28 | 4th T20I | ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Jan 31 | 5th T20I | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram | 7:00 PM |