India vs New Zealand 1st T20I 2026: Playing XI, Squads, Head-to-Head, Recent Form & Old Results
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I will kick off the five-match T20I series on 22 October 2026 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. India will be led by Shreyas Iyer, while New Zealand will be captained by Mitchell Santner.
| Match | 1st T20I |
|---|---|
| Series | India Tour of New Zealand 2026 |
| Date | Thursday, 22 October 2026 |
| Time | 12:30 PM IST |
| Toss | 12:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Format | T20 International |
| India Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| New Zealand Captain | Mitchell Santner |
| Series | 5 Match T20I Series |
| Live Streaming | SonyLIV |
| Live Telecast | Sony Sports Network |
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I Preview
India will begin their five-match New Zealand tour with the opening T20I at Christchurch. The Indian team comes into the series after a 2-2 draw against West Indies in the recently completed five-match T20I series.
New Zealand will have home advantage and will look to start the series with a strong performance. The Black Caps also have several players who featured in the 2026 T20 World Cup final against India.
Probable Playing XI – India
2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
3. Sanju Samson (WK)
4. Tilak Varma
5. Shreyas Iyer (C)
6. Ishan Kishan
7. Axar Patel
8. Nitish Kumar Reddy
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
10. Arshdeep Singh
11. Varun Chakaravarthy
Note: This is the probable XI based on the announced squad and recent team combination. The official Playing XI will be confirmed after the toss.
Probable Playing XI – New Zealand
2. Devon Conway (WK)
3. Tim Seifert
4. Daryl Mitchell
5. Glenn Phillips
6. Michael Bracewell
7. Mitchell Santner (C)
8. Bevon Jacobs
9. Matt Henry
10. Lockie Ferguson
11. Jacob Duffy
New Zealand have plenty of batting depth and multiple pace options for the Christchurch conditions. The final XI will be announced at the toss.
Previous India vs New Zealand T20I Results
5th T20I – 31 January 2026
India won by 46 runs.
India scored 271/5, while New Zealand were bowled out for 225.
4th T20I – 28 January 2026
New Zealand won by 50 runs.
New Zealand scored 215/7 and India were dismissed for 165.
3rd T20I – 25 January 2026
India won by 8 wickets.
New Zealand made 153/9, while India chased the target with eight wickets in hand.
2nd T20I – 23 January 2026
India won by 7 wickets.
New Zealand scored 208/6, but India successfully chased the target.
1st T20I – 21 January 2026
India won by 48 runs.
India posted 238/7, while New Zealand finished on 190/7.
India vs New Zealand T20I Head-to-Head
| T20I Matches | 31 |
|---|---|
| India Wins | 19 |
| New Zealand Wins | 11 |
| Tie | 1 |
| India Win Percentage | 61.29% |
India have the overall advantage in the T20I head-to-head record. The teams also met six times in 2026 before this upcoming series, including the T20 World Cup final, with India winning most of those contests.
Recent T20I Form – India
W – L – W – W – L
India's most recent T20I series against West Indies ended 2-2. India will now look to improve their consistency in New Zealand conditions.
Recent T20I Form – New Zealand
L – L – W – L – L
New Zealand will look to use home conditions to reverse their recent head-to-head disadvantage against India.
India Full T20I Squad
Abhishek Sharma
Sanju Samson (WK)
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Ishan Kishan (WK)
Tilak Varma (VC)
Axar Patel
Shivam Dube
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Naman Dhir
Prince Yadav
Mayank Yadav
Arshdeep Singh
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Varun Chakaravarthy
Kuldeep Yadav
New Zealand Full T20I Squad
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
Key Players to Watch – India
Shreyas Iyer: India's T20I captain will be an important middle-order batter and leader in the Christchurch conditions.
Abhishek Sharma: The explosive left-handed opener can change the match during the powerplay.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The young left-hander is one of India's most exciting batting options. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has already highlighted the need for a plan against him.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: His swing bowling could be especially dangerous in New Zealand conditions.
Axar Patel: Axar provides India with both batting depth and left-arm spin.
Key Players to Watch – New Zealand
Mitchell Santner: The New Zealand captain brings experience with both bat and ball and will be central to the team's strategy.
Finn Allen: One of New Zealand's most destructive T20 openers and a major powerplay threat.
Glenn Phillips: A powerful middle-order batter and excellent fielder who can change the game quickly.
Daryl Mitchell: An experienced all-round option capable of contributing with both bat and ball.
Matt Henry: His pace and ability to extract movement could make him a major threat at Hagley Oval.
Hagley Oval Pitch Report
Hagley Oval in Christchurch can offer assistance to fast bowlers, particularly with the new ball. Batters who survive the early movement can score freely once they settle in.
The conditions could make the opening overs extremely important. India's experienced pace attack and New Zealand's home-condition advantage could make the contest very competitive.
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I – Match Details
| Teams | India vs New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Match | 1st T20I |
| Date | 22 October 2026 |
| Day | Thursday |
| Time | 12:30 PM IST |
| Toss | 12:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| India Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| New Zealand Captain | Mitchell Santner |
| Format | T20 International |
| Series Matches | 5 T20Is |
Where to Watch India vs New Zealand 1st T20I?
Indian viewers can watch the India vs New Zealand 1st T20I live on the Sony Sports Network. Live streaming will be available on SonyLIV.
India vs New Zealand T20I Series Schedule
| 1st T20I | 22 October – Christchurch |
|---|---|
| 2nd T20I | 24 October – Christchurch |
| 3rd T20I | 27 October – Wellington |
| 4th T20I | 30 October – Auckland |
| 5th T20I | 1 November – Hamilton |
Conclusion
The India vs New Zealand 1st T20I promises an exciting start to the five-match series. India have the stronger recent head-to-head record, but New Zealand will have the advantage of playing at home.
With Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar on one side and Mitchell Santner, Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry on the other, the Christchurch opener could be a thrilling contest.