India are set to embark on a significant overseas assignment in New Zealand later in 2026, with a packed schedule that features five T20 Internationals, five One-Day Internationals, and a pair of Test matches. The full itinerary will be played across five major venues in the country, making it a landmark inbound tour for New Zealand cricket. New Zealand Cricket has described the 12-match engagement as the largest international visit in its history.
The tour runs from October through December 2026 and will be a milestone for India in multiple ways. It will represent India’s return to Test cricket in New Zealand since the 2019-20 season, ending a gap between home-and-away Test assignments. It will also be India’s first white-ball trip to the nation since 2022, adding extra attention to the T20I and ODI contests that form the first part of the series.
The white-ball campaign begins on October 22 in Christchurch, where the first of the five-match T20I sequence is scheduled. From there, the series moves to Wellington, then Auckland, before concluding in Hamilton. After the T20Is, the schedule switches to the 50-over format, with five ODIs planned across Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, and Tauranga.
As the tour reaches its final phase, two Tests will be staged at prominent New Zealand grounds. Wellington’s Basin Reserve will host the opening Test from November 19 to November 23. The second and deciding Test is set for Christchurch, with the Hagley Oval taking charge from November 27 through December 1.
For New Zealand supporters, the ODI stretch could be particularly enticing, with India’s established 50-over performers still expected to be in the mix. The series may offer fans an opportunity to see key names such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in action in the format. With the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup positioned for 2027, the five-match ODI schedule is also expected to function as a vital tune-up for both teams ahead of that global event.
India and New Zealand most recently faced each other in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where India successfully defended their title with a strong win. Given that recent high-stakes meeting, the coming tour is expected to deepen the competitive story between the two sides and add another exciting chapter to their rivalry.
India tour of New Zealand
T20Is (22 Oct to 1 Nov)
- 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
ODIs (4 Nov to 15 Nov)
- 1st ODI – 4 November, Auckland
- 2nd ODI – 7 November, Wellington
- 3rd ODI – 10 November, Hamilton
- 4th ODI – 13 November, Mount Maunganui
- 5th ODI – 15 November, Mount Maunganui
Tests
- 1st Test – 19-23 November, Wellington
- 2nd Test – 27 November-1 December 2026, Christchurch
