This series has a clear headline: a World Cup final rematch, played over five nights in New Zealand. India arrive with Shreyas Iyer as captain; Mitchell Santner leads the hosts. Christchurch gets the first two matches, giving both sides a quick chance to settle into the tour.
India vs New Zealand T20I schedule
The series runs from 22 October to 1 November, moving from Christchurch to Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton. Start times can vary by broadcast and local listing, so check the official match centre before match day.
| Match | Date | Venue city |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Thursday, 22 October | Christchurch |
| 2nd T20I | Saturday, 24 October | Christchurch |
| 3rd T20I | Tuesday, 27 October | Wellington |
| 4th T20I | Friday, 30 October | Auckland |
| 5th T20I | Sunday, 1 November | Hamilton |
Squads and team news
India have named Iyer captain and Tilak Varma vice-captain. The squad includes several top-order options, wicketkeepers Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, and a mix of pace, spin and all-round choices. The official list includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.
Santner captains New Zealand. The squad features Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson. Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes have been ruled out through injury; Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner were called in. Final XIs are confirmed on match day.
Three things to watch
A final rematch, without assuming a repeat
India beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the Men’s T20 World Cup final in March. That result gives the series a natural backstory, but a new tour brings different conditions, combinations and pressure. The useful question is how quickly each side adjusts, not whether the final will happen again.
Who wins the first six overs?
Both squads have attacking options at the top and experienced new-ball bowlers. Watch the trade-off: can the batting side score freely without giving away early wickets, and can the fielding side force the middle order into the game sooner?
Selection and balance across five games
A five-match series gives teams room to rotate or try combinations, especially as the tour moves between cities. An all-rounder’s place, a second spinner or the final pace spot may tell you as much about the plan as the headline names do.
Fantasy cricket notes
- Wait for the toss and confirmed playing XIs; squad selection is not confirmation that a player will feature.
- Check venue and conditions for each match rather than carrying one assumption across the tour. Our pitch report guide explains what to look for.
- Think about likely involvement: batting position, bowling allocation and fielding role all affect opportunity. Our team-building guide walks through that selection process.
- Choose captain and vice-captain after checking the contest rules. Our captain-pick guide and scoring primer cover the key decisions.
These are match-reading prompts, not guaranteed picks or predictions. Fantasy features and eligibility depend on official contest rules and local requirements.
Sources and updates
Schedule and India squad: BCCI announcement. New Zealand squad, injury changes and series context: ICC update. World Cup final result: ICC tournament coverage.