India vs. New Zealand T20 Series 2026: Final Prep for T20 World Cup Begins
The Indian men’s cricket team is set to face New Zealand in a high-stakes five-match T20I series starting January 21, 2026, serving as a critical dress rehearsal for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Following a narrow 1-2 loss in the recent ODI series against the Black Caps, India looks to sharpen its shortest-format combinations under the leadership of captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Axar Patel. The series marks the return of Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh to the squad, though the team will navigate the absence of Shubman Gill and the initial matches without the injured Tilak Varma. Meanwhile, New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, enters the series with momentum, aiming to capitalize on their historic ODI success on Indian soil.
Fans can catch all the action live as the series travels through Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram. All matches are scheduled for a 7:00 PM IST start, with the toss taking place at 6:30 PM. In India, the Star Sports Network will provide the live television broadcast, while digital viewers can stream the matches via the JioHotstar app and website. With both teams finalized and the T20 World Cup just weeks away, this series promises intense competition as the world’s top players battle for momentum and form.
