Team India is gearing up to face New Zealand in a five-match T20I series after losing the three-match ODI series 2-1. The series, starting on January 21 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, holds significant importance for the Men in Blue as it serves as their final preparation before defending their T20 World Cup title.
Suryakumar Yadav has been retained as the captain for the T20I series against New Zealand and the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, his recent form is a cause for concern, with only 218 runs in 19 T20I innings in 2025 at an average of 13.62 and a strike rate of 123.16. Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been included in the squad as replacements for Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar respectively. While Shreyas will feature in the first three T20Is, Bishnoi will play the entire series. Both players will be eager to make an impact and prove their worth in the team.
In India, the live telecast of the India vs New Zealand 2026 T20I series will be broadcasted on the Star Sports network channels. The coverage will commence at 6:00 PM with the toss scheduled for 6:30 PM and the match kicking off at 7:00 PM. For viewers looking to stream the matches live, the JioHotstar app and website will provide the live streaming service. A subscription plan will be required to access the games on JioHotstar.
The full schedule of the India vs New Zealand 2026 T20I series is as follows:
– Jan 21: 1st T20I at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur (7:00 PM)
– Jan 23: 2nd T20I at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur (7:00 PM)
– Jan 25: 3rd T20I at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati (7:00 PM)
– Jan 28: 4th T20I at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam (7:00 PM)
– Jan 31: 5th T20I at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram (7:00 PM)
As the excitement builds up for the T20I series, cricket fans can look forward to witnessing some thrilling matches between India and New Zealand. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, both teams will be aiming to fine-tune their strategies and test their skills against each other. Stay tuned for an action-packed series that promises to deliver high-intensity cricket on the field.
This article was edited by Renin Wilben Albert.
