The Indian cricket team is set for a significant home assignment in early 2026, as they prepare to lock horns with New Zealand in an extensive eight-match limited-overs series. The tour, packed with three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), will commence on January 11 and run through to January 31, offering fans a high-octane start to the new year.
A Series of Dual Significance: Returns and Preparations
This bilateral contest carries substantial weight for the Indian team on two major fronts. The ODI leg is poised to witness the highly anticipated return of senior stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the 50-over setup. Their comeback, expected after the South Africa series, will draw considerable attention as India looks to solidify its one-day strategy.
Concurrently, the T20I segment assumes critical importance as a final testing ground ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the T20 side will use these five matches to fine-tune combinations and finalize the core group for their title defence on home soil.
Squad Details and Selection Timeline
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already unveiled the T20I squad for the series, the ODI contingent is yet to be officially named. The national selection committee is likely to hold an online meeting around January 3 or 4 to finalize the ODI squad. In contrast, New Zealand has announced both their ODI and T20I squads well in advance.
The Indian ODI squad is scheduled to assemble in Vadodara on January 7, four days before the series opener. The Kiwi squads feature a mix of experience and new talent, with Michael Bracewell leading the ODI side and Mitchell Santner captaining the T20I unit.
New Zealand's ODI Squad for India Tour
Michael Bracewell (Captain), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young.
India's T20I Squad for New Zealand Series
Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan.
New Zealand's T20I Squad for India Tour
Mitchell Santner (Captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi.
Complete Match Schedule and Venues
The action begins with the ODI series, which will be played across three iconic venues. The series opener is set for the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, on January 11. The teams will then move to the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Khandheri, Rajkot, for the second ODI on January 14, before concluding the 50-over leg at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on January 18. All ODI matches will start at 1:30 PM IST.
The T20I carnival kicks off immediately after, with five matches scheduled across five different cities. The series starts in Nagpur at the VCA Stadium on January 21, followed by games in Raipur (Jan 23), Guwahati (Jan 25), Visakhapatnam (Jan 28), and culminates in Thiruvananthapuram at the Greenfield International Stadium on January 31. All T20Is are night fixtures, beginning at 7:00 PM IST.
ODI Schedule:
- Jan 11, Sun: Vadodara (1:30 PM IST)
- Jan 14, Wed: Rajkot (1:30 PM IST)
- Jan 18, Sun: Indore (1:30 PM IST)
T20I Schedule:
- Jan 21, Wed: Nagpur (7:00 PM IST)
- Jan 23, Fri: Raipur (7:00 PM IST)
- Jan 25, Sun: Guwahati (7:00 PM IST)
- Jan 28, Wed: Visakhapatnam (7:00 PM IST)
- Jan 31, Sat: Thiruvananthapuram (7:00 PM IST)
This extended series promises to be a thrilling spectacle, serving as a crucial bridge between the return of proven veterans and the final preparations for a global tournament on home turf. Cricket enthusiasts across the nation can gear up for three weeks of non-stop action and strategic cricketing drama.
