India open their five‑match T20I series against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Thursday, 22 October 2026. Captain Shreyas Iyer’s side will look to secure an early win on the tour, while New Zealand’s skipper, Mitchell Santner, aims to exploit home‑court advantage.
The series provides India a platform to evaluate batting combinations and bowling options ahead of upcoming tournaments. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan bring attacking depth, and the return of senior seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar adds experience to the attack.
New Zealand will rely on their familiarity with the local conditions and a strong core that includes Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell and Finn Allen. Their bowling unit, featuring Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson and Jacob Duffy, is set to challenge India’s aggressive batting lineup.
Both teams aim to seize early momentum, promising a compelling clash between India’s batting strength and New Zealand’s home advantage.
Full Playing Squads
India: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner.
Live Streaming & Telecast Details
Match: India vs New Zealand, 1st T20I
Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026
Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Start time: 8:00 PM New Zealand time
Match Start Times Worldwide
- India: 12:30 PM IST
- Pakistan: 12:00 PM PKT
- UK: 8:00 AM BST
- New Zealand: 8:00 PM NZDT
- USA (Eastern Time): 3:00 AM EDT
Where to Watch Live
- India: Sony Sports Network (TV) and SonyLIV (online)
- New Zealand: Sky Sport (TV) and Sky platform streaming
- UK: TNT Sports 1
- USA: Willow TV / Willow.tv
- Pakistan: Broadcast and streaming details not confirmed
Also Read
- Katich Says Several Australian Batsmen Fighting to Keep Test Careers as Labuschagne’s Woes Deepen
- Cesc Fabregas Celebrates Como’s Commanding Champions League Win Over Manchester United
- AEW Dynamite Preview: Bang Bang Gang Turns Heel, Mercedes Moné Sets New Women’s World Title Challenger, IIja Dragonuv Makes In-Ring Debut
- St. Louis City Clinches US Open Cup, Ending 38‑Year Wait Over Columbus Crew
