India Tour of New Zealand 2026: Schedule, Squads, Predictions & Betting Tips

The tour will begin with a five-match T20I series in October, followed by five ODIs in November and two Test matches that will contribute to the ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 standings.

India enter the T20I leg as reigning T20 World Cup champions. Their squad includes explosive batters such as Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, while New Zealand will look to Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry and their experienced pace-bowling options to challenge the visitors.

The ODI series will feature established Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, alongside Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. New Zealand will rely on experienced players such as Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips.

Criclines will cover the tour with match predictions, team analysis, player tips, venue insights and betting advice throughout the series.

India Tour of New Zealand 2026 Overview

The tour offers both teams an opportunity to test their depth and combinations across formats. New Zealand will look to take advantage of familiar conditions, while India will aim to translate their batting depth and international experience into results away from home.

India Tour of New Zealand 2026 Schedule

The tour comprises 12 matches across T20Is, ODIs and Tests.

India Tour of New Zealand 2026 Squads

New Zealand squad and key players

Mitchell Santner is named as New Zealand's T20I captain. The hosts have several experienced players who could play important roles during the series.

• Mitchell Santner
• Michael Bracewell
• Lockie Ferguson
• Matt Henry
• Adam Milne
• Tim Robinson
• Mark Chapman
• Daryl Mitchell
• Devon Conway
• Tom Latham
• Glenn Phillips

New Zealand's preparations have reportedly been affected by injuries.

India squad and key players

India will draw on a mix of established international players and younger talent across the three formats.

• Abhishek Sharma
• Sanju Samson
• Tilak Varma
• Shivam Dube
• Shubman Gill
• Shreyas Iyer
• Rohit Sharma
• Virat Kohli
• Jasprit Bumrah

India have named separate squads for the first three ODIs and the final two matches. Shubman Gill is captain for the opening three ODIs, while Shreyas Iyer is named captain for the final two.

Shreyas Iyer is also India's T20I captain.

India Tour of New Zealand 2026 Venues

The tour will take place across several New Zealand cities, exposing both teams to different conditions during the T20I and longer-format matches.

Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Hagley Oval will host the opening two T20Is on October 22 and October 24. The venue provides the setting for India to begin the tour and for New Zealand to use familiar home conditions to put the visitors under pressure.

Wellington

Wellington will host one of the later T20Is and the first Test, which begins on November 19. The Test will be an important early opportunity for both teams to build momentum in the World Test Championship cycle.

Eden Park, Auckland

Eden Park is scheduled to host the opening ODI on November 4. The ODI series will be a key test of India's batting depth and New Zealand's ability to use home conditions against an experienced visiting lineup.

Hamilton

Hamilton is listed as the venue for the fifth T20I, completing the five-match opening leg of the tour.

Christchurch

Christchurch will host the second Test, scheduled to begin on November 27. The match will conclude the tour's two-Test series, with the result contributing to the World Test Championship 2025–2027 standings.

India Tour of New Zealand 2026 Predictions

India and New Zealand have the quality to compete across all three formats. The visitors possess substantial batting depth and experience, while the hosts will benefit from playing in familiar conditions and having several established pace-bowling options.

T20I series prediction: India to win 3–2

India are predicted to win the five-match T20I series 3–2.

India's attacking batting options could be particularly influential in the shortest format. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma provide aggressive scoring options, while Shivam Dube offers another potential source of power.

New Zealand will be competitive at home, particularly if their pace bowlers exploit movement early in the innings. Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell could also play important roles in controlling the middle overs.

A closely contested series is expected, but India's depth gives them a narrow advantage in the overall prediction.

Predicted T20I series result: India 3–2 New Zealand.

ODI series prediction

The ODI series will feature a more experienced Indian batting lineup, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill. Shreyas Iyer will also be an important middle-order option.

New Zealand's key players include Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips. Their familiarity with local conditions could help them challenge India, particularly in matches where the ball moves early.

Test series prediction

The two-Test series begins in Wellington on November 19 before moving to Christchurch for the second match, starting November 27.

Jasprit Bumrah's inclusion in India's Test squad is a significant factor. His accuracy and ability to exploit movement could make him one of the visitors' most important players with the ball.

Shubman Gill will be an important batting figure for India, while New Zealand will look to make their home conditions count over five days of cricket.

Key Players to Watch

India

Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma is one of India's most aggressive T20 batters. His attacking approach at the top of the order can put opposition bowlers under pressure during the powerplay.

A fast start from Abhishek could give India an early advantage, particularly when chasing a target or attempting to establish a high scoring rate in the first six overs.

Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is a central figure in India's ODI and Test plans. His ability to construct substantial innings will be particularly important in the longer formats, where patience and shot selection can determine the outcome of a match.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma's experience and attacking batting will be important during the ODI leg. His ability to score quickly at the top of the order could help India establish strong positions against New Zealand's new-ball attack.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli brings extensive international experience to the ODI series. His ability to manage run chases, rotate the strike and accelerate when required makes him an important part of India's batting lineup.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah returns to India's Test squad for the New Zealand tour. His accuracy, variations and ability to generate awkward bounce make him a major threat to opposition batters.

In New Zealand, his ability to exploit movement with the new ball and deliver effective spells could be important to India's chances of taking 20 wickets.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer is an important middle-order batter whose ability to play both pace and spin gives India flexibility. The source names him as captain for the final two ODIs, although its separate reference to his T20I captaincy requires confirmation.

New Zealand

Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand in the T20I series, according to the supplied source. His left-arm spin and all-round ability could be valuable during the middle overs, when controlling the scoring rate is essential.

His tactical decisions will also be important as New Zealand look to make the most of home conditions against India's powerful batting lineup.

Matt Henry

Matt Henry is one of the key New Zealand bowling options identified in the source. His ability to challenge batters with the new ball could be important at the start of the T20I series.

Lockie Ferguson

Lockie Ferguson offers New Zealand a pace option capable of challenging aggressive batters. His role will be particularly relevant against India's attacking T20I lineup, where speed and variations can create wicket-taking opportunities.

Michael Bracewell

Michael Bracewell provides New Zealand with an all-round option. His batting and off-spin could help the hosts maintain balance, particularly in the limited-overs formats.

Daryl Mitchell

Daryl Mitchell is one of New Zealand's important ODI batting options. His ability to build an innings while maintaining scoring momentum could be significant against India's experienced bowling attack.

Devon Conway

Devon Conway offers New Zealand a reliable batting option at the top of the order. His ability to build partnerships and manage the early overs will be important in the ODI series.

India vs New Zealand: Tactical Analysis

India's strengths

India's biggest advantage is the depth of their international batting resources. The T20I lineup includes aggressive players who can score quickly, while the ODI and Test groups feature experienced batters capable of building longer innings.

Jasprit Bumrah's presence in the Test squad adds a major wicket-taking option. India will also have opportunities to assess younger players and develop combinations across the three formats.

However, adapting to New Zealand's home conditions will be important. India will need to manage the early overs carefully and avoid losing wickets in clusters against the hosts' pace attack.

New Zealand's strengths

New Zealand's main advantage is familiarity with home conditions. Their bowlers will look to exploit any available movement, while their batters will aim to use local knowledge to negotiate India's attack.

Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell and the available pace options give the hosts different ways to approach the T20I series.

In the ODIs, the experience of Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway and Tom Latham could help New Zealand build competitive totals and manage difficult periods.

Injuries are identified as a concern in the supplied source, so the final assessment of New Zealand's prospects will depend partly on player availability.

What Do India Tour of New Zealand Match Predictions Include?

Criclines match previews will focus on the factors most relevant to each fixture, including:

• Match-winner predictions.
• Top-batter and top-bowler tips.
• Player performance markets.
• Pitch and venue analysis.
• Weather conditions where reliable forecasts are available.
• Head-to-head records.
• Team news and injury updates.
• Confirmed playing XIs.
• Matchups between batters and bowlers.
• Betting value before the toss.

Predictions can change as team selections, playing conditions and other relevant information become available. Readers should check the latest match-specific preview before making decisions.

How Criclines Produces India vs New Zealand Betting Tips

Criclines evaluates several factors before publishing its cricket predictions.

Recent form and team strength

Recent performances help assess the strengths and weaknesses of each team. The analysis also considers the balance of the selected squad and the availability of key players.

Venue and playing conditions

Conditions can influence the relative value of batting and bowling options. Criclines considers venue characteristics and available weather information when assessing a match.

Player matchups

Individual matchups can help identify potential advantages. These include how batters perform against particular bowling styles and how bowlers have handled specific opponents.

Toss and team selection

The toss can affect match strategy, especially when conditions change during the game. Confirmed playing XIs also help clarify team balance and the roles expected of individual players.

Reviewing predictions before the match

Predictions should be reviewed when significant team news or changes in conditions emerge. Criclines will update match coverage as reliable information becomes available.

How to Use India Tour of New Zealand Betting Tips

Readers using cricket predictions should consider the following steps:

1. Review the latest team news and confirmed playing XIs.
2. Check the pitch report and expected weather conditions.
3. Compare available odds before selecting a market.
4. Evaluate player-specific markets separately from match-winner predictions.
5. Avoid treating a prediction as a guaranteed result.
6. Set a budget and never stake money that you cannot afford to lose.

Odds and market availability can change before a match. Predictions are analytical opinions, not assurances of a particular outcome.

India Tour of New Zealand 2026 Betting Tips – Updated Throughout the Series

Criclines will provide match-specific coverage throughout the tour, including:

• Daily match predictions.
• T20I, ODI and Test betting tips.
• Match-winner selections.
• Top-batter and top-bowler predictions.
• Fantasy cricket insights.
• Pitch and weather analysis.
• Team news and injury updates.
• Playing XI assessments.
• Tactical analysis and player matchups.

Bookmark this page for updates as the tour progresses. Each match preview should be assessed individually using the latest available information rather than relying solely on the overall series prediction.

India Tour of New Zealand 2026 FAQs

Cricket Expert Raja Babu

Resident cricket prediction analyst