Published: Jan 21, 2026, 12:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 21, 2026, 12:19 PM (IST)
IND vs NZ: After an exciting and close ODI series, India and New Zealand will now shift their focus to T20 cricket, starting with the first match of a five-game T20 series on Wednesday, January 21, at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
New Zealand won the ODI series 2-1, but India will be looking to bounce back in the T20I format.
India has been in outstanding form in T20 cricket ever since their T20 World Cup win in 2024. Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir, India has not lost a single T20 series. With the 2026 T20 World Cup approaching, this five-match series against New Zealand is the perfect opportunity for India to fine-tune their game and prepare for the big challenge ahead.
On the other hand, New Zealand enters this series with strong momentum after winning their recent T20 series against the West Indies. While they have been strong in the format, New Zealand’s record against India in India hasn’t been great, which makes the upcoming contest even more thrilling.
Kristian Clarke, a pacer and all-rounder for New Zealand, will be a key player to watch. Clarke was impressive during the ODI series, claiming seven wickets, including two big wickets of Virat Kohli. He will be part of New Zealand’s T20 squad, with Michael Bracewell and Adam Milne sidelined due to injuries.
The India vs New Zealand 1st T20 will be played on Wednesday, January 21. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM IST, with the toss taking place at 6:30 PM IST at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
Fans can watch the India vs New Zealand 1st T20 live on the Star Sports Network. Live streaming will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (C), Devon Conway, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, Jimmy Neesham, Ish Sodi, Zak Foulkes, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Kristian Clarke.
