India’s bowlers struggled to contain the middle overs, allowing the visitors to build an important partnership. New Zealand also prioritised the showpiece event and rested regular skipper Mitchell Santner. Former captain Kane Williamson was unavailable due to his SA20 commitments, while senior batter Tom Latham remains on paternity leave. New Zealand’s India tour in 2026 is particularly significant for Vadodara, which is set to host its first men’s international match in over 15 years. As the Indian cricket team continues its dominance on the global stage, all eyes shift to the upcoming New Zealand Tour of India 2026. The tour features a combination of three One-Day Internationals and five Twenty20 Internationals, all hosted on Indian soil.

The injuries have forced changes to the T20I squad for the New Zealand series. Abhinav Nair is a sports writer, covering everything from cricket and football to NASCAR. India have a strong track record against New Zealand in this format, having won seven of their last next cricket match 10 T20 games against the Kiwis. He made just 61 runs in three games at an average of 20.33 with knocks of 27, 24, and 11.

Here we take a look at India’s schedule for 2026 where aT20 World Cup is to be defended at home and redemption is needed in Test cricket. The next India game is being shown live on Discovery+ Premium and TNT Sports 1. The live telecast of the T20I series between India and New Zealand will be available on the Star Sports Network. Sundar picked up the injury during the first ODI against New Zealand after experiencing acute discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling. The all-rounder has been advised to rest for a few days and will then report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further management of the injury.

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While the Ranji Trophy will resume next week, both Indian cricket legends have retired from Test cricket and will not play the tournament for Delhi and Mumbai, respectively. India will be hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, in which the top 20 cricket teams from all-around the globe will be featuring. India will be eyeing to defend their title at their home ground, as this title has not been defended by any team in the history of this tournament. The T20I action kicked off on 9th December in Cuttack, followed by games in Mullanpur on the 11th, Dharamsala on the 14th, Lucknow on the 17th, and the last one in Ahmedabad on 19th December. Injuries to key players Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar have impacted India’s lineup. Consequently, Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been brought back into the T20 squad after a significant absence.

This series presents the last chance for both teams to refine their strategies before the global tournament. Captain Suryakumar will be eager to regain his batting form ahead of leading the team in their World Cup title defense, which commences on February 7. From powerplays to super overs, every run, wicket, and turning point is captured in real-time. Fans can track current scores, run rates, and projected targets, along with detailed head-to-head comparisons and previous encounter highlights. Whether it’s T20s, ODIs, or Test matches, our live coverage ensures you never miss a moment of the action. After wrapping up their tour of England, the Indian cricket team will enjoy a rare and much-needed break.

Series and Tournaments

• Neither the Test team nor the limited-overs squad is scheduled to play any matches until the 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE.
• Then Namibia will challenge the men in blue on 12th February at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
• India’s packed season continues with a full-fledged home series against South Africa, featuring Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
• The team is scheduled to play a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which will also serve as a final preparation for the T20 World Cup beginning on February 7.
• The defending champions will be in action on the 1st day of the T20 World Cup 2026.
• Team India returns to English shores in 2026 for another epic cricket season.

After the Afghanistan series, India will tour England in July for a three-match ODI series, starting July 14 at Edgbaston. India’s three-match ODI series against New Zealand concluded on January 18 in Indore with a 41-run defeat in the decider. Chasing a target of 338, India were bowled out for 296 despite a fighting century from Virat Kohli, who scored 124 off 108 balls. Harshit Rana’s maiden ODI fifty also kept the hosts in the contest, but early wickets and a lack of support cost them the game. Earlier, New Zealand posted 337/8, courtesy of centuries from Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106).

Neither the Test team nor the limited-overs squad is scheduled to play any matches until the 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE. This extended pause—over 30 days—is quite unusual, given the team’s typically packed calendar. The five-match T20I stretch will kick start from January 21 and run through January 31, taking the contest across Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram. With India hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will kick off on Saturday, February 7, 2026, the series gains added significance as a key build-up phase. New Zealand will aim to sharpen adaptability and combinations, while both sides field squads blending experienced campaigners with emerging talent ahead of the global tournament. Once done with this bilateral series, they will be hosting the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka.

IND vs NZ T20 2026 schedule: Start dates, venues and timings for every T20I match of New Zealand’s tour of India

Here is the complete list of the Indian cricket team schedule for the upcoming season. The enthusiasm will remain high as fans will be able to see their cricket legends in action. After this exciting start, the Indian cricket team schedule becomes even busier with matches across formats throughout the year. The series offers both sides a last chance to fine-tune their plans before the global tournament. For India, the focus will also be on captain Suryakumar Yadav, who will be eager to regain form with the bat ahead of the team’s World Cup title defence starting on Feb. 7. The Men in Blue lost the series 2-1 and will now have to wait for a long time to play in the ODI format again.

The T20I series will begin on 1st July with the 1st T20I at Riverside Ground, followed by the 2nd T20I on 4th July at Old Trafford. The series will begin in the 3rd week of January and will be played through the month till 31st. The One-day series will be played at Kotambi Stadium (1st ODI), Niranjan Shah Stadium (2nd ODI), and Holkar Stadium (3rd ODI), on 11th, 14th and 18th January respectively. Veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will not be part of the T20I action, having retired from the shortest format in 2024. Their next competitive appearances will come in the Indian Premier League, which runs from March 26 to May 31.