The 1st T20I of the India vs New Zealand series 2026 will see India taking on New Zealand in Nagpur.The match will be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday evening.
This series comes just after India’s disappointing ODI series loss and is extremely important with the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 approaching. Both teams will look to settle their best combinations early.
IND vs NZ Match Details
| Match Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | India vs New Zealand T20I Series 2026 |
| Match | India vs New Zealand – 1st T20I |
| Date | Wednesday, 21 January 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur |
Match Preview
India (IND)
India are coming into this series after a tough ODI series defeat, but T20Is are a different format.
- Strong T20 core back in the squad
- Key players returning from injury
- Looking to bounce back strongly
Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Varun Chakravarthy are back, which strengthens the team significantly. This is also the first T20I series for India after Shubman Gill’s exit from the T20 setup.
Key Players:
Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy
New Zealand (NZ)
New Zealand come into the T20I series with huge confidence.
- Won ODI series 2–1 in India
- Full-strength squad available
- Strong pace bowling attack
With Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra in good form, New Zealand look well-prepared. Their fast bowlers can be dangerous on Indian pitches with early movement.
Key Players:
Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Matt Henry
Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
| Team | Matches Won |
|---|---|
| India | 14 |
| New Zealand | 10 |
| No Result / Tied | 1 |
Recent Form (Last 5 Matches)
| Team | Last 5 Results |
|---|---|
| India | W, L, W, NR, W |
| New Zealand | L, W, W, NR, W |
Pitch & Weather Report
Weather
- Temperature: 21–23°C
- Humidity: 48–56%
- Rain Chance: 0%
Pitch – VCA Stadium, Nagpur
- Good batting surface
- Spinners get help as game progresses
- Chasing teams have average success
Chasing Teams Winning Percentage: 33%
VCA Stadium, Nagpur – T20I Stats
| Record | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 12 |
| Batting First Wins | 8 |
| Batting Second Wins | 4 |
| Tie / No Result | 0 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 146 |
| Highest Score | 215/5 |
| Lowest Score | 79 all out |
Predicted Playing XI
India
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (WK)
- Suryakumar Yadav (C)
- Shreyas Iyer
- Axar Patel
- Hardik Pandya
- Shivam Dube
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Kuldeep Yadav
New Zealand
- Devon Conway
- Rachin Ravindra
- Tim Robinson
- Daryl Mitchell
- Mark Chapman
- Glenn Phillips
- James Neesham
- Mitchell Santner
- Jacob Duffy
- Matt Henry
- Kyle Jamieson
Dream11 Fantasy Tips
Small League (Safe Picks)
Captain / Vice-Captain Options
- Hardik Pandya
- Rachin Ravindra
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Glenn Phillips
Grand League (Risky Picks)
Captain / Vice-Captain Options
- Abhishek Sharma
- Daryl Mitchell
- Axar Patel
- Mitchell Santner
Match Prediction – Who Will Win?
New Zealand have a very balanced bowling unit, especially their pace attack. However, India’s batting depth and all-round options give them a slight edge at home.
Read more: India T20I Records at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium
India’s biggest concern is the form of Suryakumar Yadav, but overall they look stronger in T20 conditions, especially with Bumrah and Hardik back.
Predicted Winner: India
Injury Update
| Team | Status |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | No injury updates |
| India | Washington Sundar ruled out |
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