⚡ Quick Summary
India's tour of New Zealand runs from October 22 to December 1, 2026: five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests. The first T20I is on Thursday, October 22 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, at 8 PM local time, listed as 12:30 PM IST. This article lists the announced fixtures and does not predict results. Research cutoff: October 14, 2026.
New Zealand Cricket announced the tour on June 3, 2026, as a 12-match series. For Indian fans the early afternoon start in India is the practical point, because T20Is will fall during the working day.
Dates below come from the announcement as reported by GeoSuper, and cross-checked against Wikipedia's international calendar. A few venue names differ between sources, which we note.
Tour at a Glance
| Format | Matches | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| T20Is | 5 | October 22 to November 1 |
| ODIs | 5 | November 4 to November 15 |
| Tests | 2 | November 19 to December 1 |
T20I Schedule
All five T20Is are reported to start at 8 PM New Zealand time. Esquire India lists each of them at 12:30 PM IST. New Zealand is on daylight saving time in October, so the conversion holds for this series.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Thu, Oct 22 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| 2nd T20I | Sat, Oct 24 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| 3rd T20I | Tue, Oct 27 | Wellington |
| 4th T20I | Fri, Oct 30 | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 5th T20I | Sun, Nov 1 | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
Wikipedia names the Wellington ground as Wellington Regional Stadium, while GeoSuper calls it Sky Stadium. Both refer to the same city venue, and you should confirm the current name before travelling.
ODI Schedule
The reported start time for ODIs is 3 PM New Zealand time.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | Wed, Nov 4 | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 2nd ODI | Sat, Nov 7 | Wellington |
| 3rd ODI | Tue, Nov 10 | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
| 4th ODI | Fri, Nov 13 | Bay Oval, Tauranga |
| 5th ODI | Sun, Nov 15 | Bay Oval, Tauranga |
Test Schedule
The two Tests are reported to start at 11 AM New Zealand time.
- First Test: November 19 to 23, Basin Reserve, Wellington.
- Second Test: November 27 to December 1, Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
Squads Announced So Far
Esquire India, in an article last updated on October 7, 2026, reports India's T20I squad under captain Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. It also lists a New Zealand squad led by Mitchell Santner. Squads can change because of injuries, so check the BCCI and New Zealand Cricket announcements for the final lists. No squads have been checked here for the ODIs or Tests.
For background on the T20I captaincy, see our Shreyas Iyer article.
How to Convert Match Times to IST
New Zealand is on daylight saving time in October and November, which puts it 7 hours 30 minutes ahead of India. That is why an 8 PM start in Christchurch becomes 12:30 PM in India. The same gap gives a 3 PM ODI start a reported equivalent of 7:30 AM IST, and an 11 AM Test start about 3:30 AM IST. These are our own conversions of the reported local times, so confirm the IST schedule on the broadcaster's page.
What This Article Does Not Cover
We have not verified ODI or Test squads, pitch reports, ticketing arrangements or team rankings, and we make no prediction about the series. India's recent home series against West Indies is covered in our squad article. This page will be updated if the schedule changes.
Where to Watch in India
The same Esquire India report says the matches are shown live on Sony Sports Network, with streaming on SonyLIV. Broadcast rights can change, so confirm on the day.
Practical Details to Check
- Time zones: New Zealand is ahead of India. Local evening T20Is become IST lunch-hour matches.
- Weather: spring in New Zealand brings variable weather, and rain can alter start times. We cannot forecast it.
- Squads and venues: confirm on the official sites before planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the first match start in India?
The first T20I on October 22 starts at 12:30 PM IST, according to the Esquire India listing.
How many matches are in the tour?
Twelve: five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests.
Who is India's T20I captain?
Esquire India reports Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. Check the BCCI for the final squad.
Conclusion
The tour begins one day after October 21, 2026. Bookmark the fixture list above, then read our October 21 preview for the other events of that week.
