IND vs NZ 1st T20 will start on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The Nagpur series opener is crucial ahead of the T20 World Cup. The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur will host this clash at 7:00 PM (IST), marking the beginning of a five-match series that both teams desperately need to get right.
Again, Suryakumar Yadav led India in the final dress rehearsal. New Zealand is going with Mitchell Santner. The BCCI announced the squad with an eye on the T20 World Cup. New Zealand Cricket did the same.
IND vs NZ T20 cricket encounters have produced memorable moments, Suryakumar’s 111 in Hamilton, New Zealand’s World Cup ambush in Dubai, and the Bangalore thriller in 2020.
This series won’t carry ICC silverware, but it matters because both teams need answers. India wants to know if their post-Rohit-Virat era has genuine depth. The Kiwis are now more confident after clinching the bilateral series.
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IND vs NZ 1st T20 2026 Match Details
- Match: India vs New Zealand, 1st T20I
- Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM IST (6:30 PM Toss)
- Venue: VCA Stadium, Nagpur
- Series: Five-match T20I series (Match 1 of 5)
IND vs NZ T20 Squads
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Tim Robinson, James Neesham, Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Kris Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Michael Bracewell, Bevon Jacobs
Predicted Playing XI
India’s Expected XI:
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Shreyas Iyer / Ishan Kishan
- Axar patel
- Hardik Pandya
- Rinku Singh
- Shivam Dube / Harshit Rana
- Arshdeep Singh / Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Varun Chakaravarthy
Key Selection Points:
- Samson gets the nod over Ishan Kishan based on recent form, three fifties in five innings against Australia
- Arshdeep likely starts over Kuldeep; his left -arm pace troubles right-handers, and New Zealand’s middle order has five
- Hardik’s fitness decides the balance; if he bowls four overs, India plays five bowlers
- Sharma-Samson’s opening pair posted 50 partnerships against Australia
New Zealand’s Expected XI:
- Devon Conway (wk)
- Tim Robinson
- Rachin Ravindra
- Daryl Mitchell
- Mark Chapman
- Glenn Phillips
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- James Neesham / Kristian Clarke
- Matt Henry
- Jacob Duffy / Kyle Jamieson
- Ish Sodhi
Key Selection Points:
- Robinson opens despite averaging 31; his 138 strike rate matters more in T20s
- Phillips bats six and bowls off-spin, giving them a fourth bowling option
- Chapman at five provides a left-hand bat against India’s leg-spinners
- Matt Henry is the spearhead of the Kiwi pace attack.
IND vs NZ T20 Head to Head
Overall Record:
- Matches played: 25
- India wins: 14
- New Zealand wins: 10
- Tied: 1
Home/Away Split:
- India in India: 7 wins from 11 matches
- New Zealand in New Zealand: 9 wins from 15 matches
- Last meeting: India won by 168 runs in Ahmedabad (February 2023). Pandya took 45 wickets for 16 runs and received the Player of the Series award.
- New Zealand’s last win: 2025 against West Indies by 8 wickets in Dunedin.
Recent Form:
- India: Won last series vs Australia 2-1
- New Zealand: Won last series vs West Indies 3-1
The IND vs NZ T20 head-to-head record leans toward India; India got home advantage, but the numbers tighten. At VCA Nagpur, India has won 3 of 5 T20I matches.
The Nagpur Factor: What the Pitch Offers
The VCA Stadium produces red soil tracks in January that turn from day one. Square boundaries measure 65 meters; straight boundaries run 75 meters. That matters, batters who work gaps score faster than those clearing long-on.
Pitch Behavior:
- The ball has sharp turns and offers extra bounce sometimes.
- Pace bowlers get swing for the first 3-4 overs under lights.
- Average first innings score: 145-155
- Teams batting first win 67% of matches here.
- Weather: Clear skies with around 17°C-22°C temperature and wind blowing from the east-northeast at 10-12km/h, minimal dew expected in January.
Spinners will matter. Left-arm orthodox gets natural variation. Leg-spinners need to bowl slower and use width. The pitch slows down after the powerplay, making timing harder.
Where to Watch IND vs NZ T20 Live
- India: Star Sports Network (TV) | JioHotstar (Streaming – ₹299/month Premium)
- UK: Sky Sports Cricket | Now TV (£11.99 day pass)
- New Zealand: Sky Sport 1 | Sky Go
- USA: Willow TV | Sling TV ($14.99/month)
- Australia: Fox Cricket | Kayo Sports ($25/month)
IND vs NZ T20 Tickets & Stadium Guide
IND vs NZ T20 tickets are available on District and Viagogo. Pavilion tickets are sold out. East and West Stands cost ₹1500. General tickets are ₹500. Gates open at 5:00 PM. The stadium can hold 45,000 people and will be full. Nagpur does not often host international events.
Getting There: VCA is 15 km from Nagpur Railway Station. Auto-rickshaws charge ₹300-400. VCA shuttle buses run from Sitabuldi for ₹50. Parking costs ₹100 (two-wheelers) and ₹200 (cars).
Match Prediction
India starts as the favorite. They play at home on a pitch that suits their spinners. The batting depth runs seven deep. Hardik adds balance.
New Zealand will fight; they always do. Santner leads well. Henry bowls fast. Sodhi will get a turn. But their middle order needs to fire when the top three fail, and that’s asking a lot against Varun and Axar on a turning track.
India wins if: Hardik bowls his four overs, Samson strikes at 150+, and Varun takes two wickets in the middle overs.
New Zealand wins if Conway and Robinson post 70+ in powerplay, Henry grabs early wickets, and chaos strikes India’s middle order.
The pitch will turn. The team that rotates strike against finger-spin and attacks leg-spin when overpitched will take the lead. India has more weapons for this specific battle.
The second T20I will take place in Indore on January 24. The series moves fast, five matches in 12 days. This first match sets the tone. Win here, build momentum. Lose here, scramble for combinations.
Which player will you watch?
Drop your predicted India XI in the comments. The match starts within 24hours. Nagpur will turn. One team walks off with a 1-0 lead in a series that matters more than the schedule suggests.
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