In a significant growth forward of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the entire schedule for an intensive white-ball collection in opposition to New Zealand.
India gears up for T20 World Cup 2026 with white-ball collection in opposition to New Zealand
The announcement was made throughout the BCCI’s twenty eighth Apex Council Assembly, confirming that the bilateral contest will function a complete of eight matches, three One Day Internationals (ODIs) adopted by 5 T20 Internationals (T20Is). The collection is about to begin on January 11, 2026, and can function a pivotal part in India’s preparation for the worldwide occasion, which will likely be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February and March.
The tour will kick off with the ODI collection, which is prone to see the return of Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, each of whom have retired from Take a look at and T20 codecs however are anticipated to stay energetic in ODIs. The primary ODI will likely be held in Baroda on January 11, adopted by matches in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18. These matches will present India with a possibility to refine its 50-over methods, particularly with skilled gamers anchoring the lineup throughout a transition part in management and crew composition.
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T20I collection beneath Suryakumar Yadav’s management to finalize India’s world cup core
Following the ODI phase, the main target will shift to the much-anticipated T20I leg of the collection, scheduled from January 21 to January 31, 2026. This part will likely be particularly vital, because it marks India’s ultimate worldwide engagement earlier than coming into the high-stakes area of the T20 World Cup. The Indian crew will likely be led by Suryakumar Yadav, whose aggressive stroke-play and revolutionary management have earned him the captain’s armband for the shortest format.
The five-match collection begins with the primary T20I in Nagpur on January 21, adopted by the second in Raipur on January 23. Guwahati will host the third match on January 25, with the tour culminating in back-to-back T20Is in Vizag on January 28 and Trivandrum on January 31. These matches won’t solely assist India finalize its core squad for the World Cup but additionally supply fringe gamers an opportunity to push for inclusion within the ultimate 15.
New Zealand tour of India 2026: Full schedule and venue particulars
| S. No. | Date | Day | Time (IST) | Time (GMT) | MATCH | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11-Jan-2026 | Sunday | 1:30 PM | 8:00 AM | 1st ODI | Baroda |
| 2 | 14-Jan-2026 | Wednesday | 1:30 PM | 8:00 AM | 2nd ODI | Rajkot |
| 3 | 18-Jan-2026 | Sunday | 1:30 PM | 8:00 AM | third ODI | Indore |
| 4 | 21-Jan-2026 | Wednesday | 7:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 1st T20I | Nagpur |
| 5 | 23-Jan-2026 | Friday | 7:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 2nd T20I | Raipur |
| 6 | 25-Jan-2026 | Sunday | 7:00 PM | 1:30 PM | third T20I | Guwahati |
| 7 | 28-Jan-2026 | Wednesday | 7:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 4th T20I | Vizag |
| 8 | 31-Jan-2026 | Saturday | 7:00 PM | 1:30 PM | fifth T20I | Trivandrum |
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