The 2026 T20I calendar kicks off with a heavyweight clash as India hosts New Zealand for a five-match series, beginning in Nagpur. India, the reigning T20 champions, enter with immense confidence from a dominant home season and an unbeaten run in multi-nation tournaments. New Zealand, always a formidable white-ball unit, arrives with their own momentum and a squad built for adaptability. This opening fixture sets the stage for a compelling battle between India’s home dominance and New Zealand’s renowned composure.
India vs New Zealand Win Probability
*Favorites by form and leading run-scorer advantage.
IND vs NZ Batting Tips
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I Match Details
| Match | Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka 2026, 1st T20I |
| Date | Wednesday, January 21, 2026 |
| Time | 07:00 PM (LOCAL) |
| Venue | Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur |
| Live Streaming (TV) | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming (Mobile) | JioHotstar |
IND vs NZ Match Prediction & Analysis (Who Will Win?)
India are overwhelming favourites to win the series opener. This prediction is based on a formidable combination of recent form, home advantage, and squad balance. India’s batting is explosive and deep, featuring powerplay dominators like Abhishek Sharma and the genius of Suryakumar Yadav in the middle. Their bowling attack is arguably the clincher, with Jasprit Bumrah’s death-overs mastery and a trio of world-class spinners (Kuldeep, Axar, Varun) perfectly suited to Indian conditions. While New Zealand possesses a balanced side with dangerous players like Daryl Mitchell and the all-round skills of Mitchell Santner, they face an uphill task against a settled Indian unit in their own backyard. The likely dew factor in Nagpur further advantages the chasing team, which India will look to exploit. Prediction: India to win the 1st T20I.
IND vs NZ Head to Head (T20Is)
| Total Match Played | 25 |
| IND Won | 10 |
| NZ Won | 14 |
| Draw/NR/Tie | 01 |
IND vs NZ Teams Preview (Top Players to Watch)
India
India is a team bursting with confidence and momentum. Their batting lineup is designed for aggression, with Abhishek Sharma providing fiery starts and a deep middle order featuring finishers like Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. The bowling unit is their crown jewel, offering unparalleled variety and control in home conditions, making them a nightmare to face.
IND Probable Playing XI-
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh / Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.
Top Player to Watch- Abhishek Sharma & Jasprit Bumrah.
New Zealand
New Zealand are a well-organized and adaptable unit, never an easy opponent. Their strength lies in a flexible batting order with solid openers and the ever-reliable Daryl Mitchell in the middle. Their bowling attack is well-rounded, with pace options and the spin duo of Santner and Sodhi who can be effective on slowing pitches.
NZ Probable Playing XI-
Devon Conway (WK), Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (C), Kyle Jamieson/Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
Top Player to Watch- Daryl Mitchell & Mitchell Santner.
IND vs NZ Weather & Pitch Report
The pitch at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur is traditionally true early on but tends to slow down as the match progresses. This brings spinners who bowl into the pitch into the game during the middle overs. Pacers with good variations can be effective at the death. A first-innings score of 155-160 is average, with 165+ being competitive. Dew in the second innings often makes chasing slightly easier.
The weather forecast indicates a pleasant evening for cricket with temperatures around 20°C at night, partial cloud cover, and a very low (5%) chance of rain. A moderate dew factor is expected.
IND vs NZ Toss Prediction
Given the strong likelihood of dew settling in during the second innings of this winter night game, making batting easier and gripping the ball harder for spinners, the captain winning the toss will almost certainly choose to bowl first.
IND vs NZ Dream11 Team
- Wicket-keeper: Sanju Samson, Devon Conway
- Batters: Suryakumar Yadav, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra
- All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Mitchell Santner, Axar Patel
- Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Ish Sodhi
Pro Tip: Dream11 currently offers users from outside India the ability to create teams for free. For this match, prioritize top-order batters from the team likely to chase (India, based on toss prediction and form) and bowlers who operate in the powerplay and death overs. Always finalize your Dream11 team after the official playing XIs are announced, typically 30 minutes before the match starts.
Disclaimer: This match prediction is based on analysis of recent form, head-to-head records, and pitch conditions. It is for entertainment purposes only. We do not endorse or engage in any illegal betting activities. Users, especially from India, must comply with all local laws, including regulations under the new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.
