When and where to watch IND vs NZ first T20I: Match date, time, venue and live streaming details

ByTech Word News

Shreyas Iyer, Mitchell Santner Shreyas Iyer-led India will look to extend their unbeaten run in the T20I series in New Zealand as they open a five-match rubber against the hosts on Thursday. The visitors, despite having limited time to rest, acclimatise and train after their arrival, will rely on their batting power to take on the home side.India’s last T20I series in New Zealand was in 2022. The match in Napier ended in a Duckworth-Lewis draw after play was interrupted by rain. India went on to win the series, claiming victory in the only rain-affected match.Only four batsmen in the Indian team have played T20Is in New Zealand before – captain Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube. While Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bring plenty of attacking options, they will need time to adjust to the pace and seam movement expected in local conditions.The series is an opportunity for Iyer to showcase himself on the overseas tour after his tenure as captain began with back-to-back defeats in Ireland and England.Mitchell Santner’s New Zealand side will look to put India under pressure. Iyer comes after leading India to a second consecutive Asian Games gold campaign and a hard-fought home series against the West Indies that ended in a draw.However, if the series follows the pattern of India’s tour of Great Britain earlier this year, scrutiny of Iyer’s leadership is likely to increase. He is expected to lead India to the T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in two years.India will be missing two key players in all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is injured, and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who will only feature in the ODIs and Test leg of the tour. Pandya led India during their tour of New Zealand in 2022.The return of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar after almost four years and the availability of mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who is fit again, should bolster India’s bowling attack. However, questions remain over the all-round contributions of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube.New Zealand, meanwhile, have several pace options suited to the conditions, including Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson and Blair Tickner.The two countries are commemorating 100 years of sporting ties this year, with the five-match T20I series to be followed by five ODIs and two Tests.When and where to watch

  • When: October 22, 2026 at 12:30 p.m
  • Where: Hagley Oval, Christchurch
  • Telecast: Sony Sports Network
  • Live streaming: Sony LIV app and website

India vs New Zealand T20I Schedule 2026

Match Time (IST) Venue 1st T20. Oct 2212:30 PMHagley Oval, Christchurch2nd T20. Oct 2412:30 PMHagley Oval, Christchurch3rd T20. Auckland5th T20INov 112:30 PMMeddon Park, Hamilton