India Vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline – T20I, ODIs, & Test Matches
India and New Zealand have faced each other in 203 cricket matches since 1955.
The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline tracks every Test, ODI, and T20I played between these teams over 71 years.
This timeline tells more than just numbers. It captures a rivalry built on respect, competitive spirit, and quality cricket across generations.
From the first Test in Hyderabad to the latest series in 2026, here’s the complete story of India vs New Zealand cricket.
India Vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline
What Happened In The 2026 Series?
New Zealand toured India in January 2026 for a complete bilateral series. The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline today shows both teams sharing honors across formats.
| Date | Match | Venue | India Score | New Zealand Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 January 2026 | 1st ODI (Day/Night) | Vadodara | 306/6 (49 overs) | 300/8 (50 overs) | India won by 4 wickets |
| 14 January 2026 | 2nd ODI (Day/Night) | Rajkot | 284/7 (50 overs) | 286/3 (47.3 overs) | New Zealand won by 7 wickets |
| 18 January 2026 | 3rd ODI (Day/Night) | Indore | 296 (46 overs) | 337/8 (50 overs) | New Zealand won by 41 runs |
| 21 January 2026 | 1st T20I (Night) | Nagpur | 238/7 (20 overs) | 190/7 (20 overs) | India won by 48 runs |
| 23 January 2026 | 2nd T20I (Night) | Raipur | 209/3 (15.2 overs) | 208/6 (20 overs) | India won by 7 wickets |
| 25 January 2026 | 3rd T20I (Night) | Guwahati | 155/2 (10 overs) | 153/9 (20 overs) | India won by 8 wickets |
| 28 January 2026 | 4th T20I (Night) | Visakhapatnam | 165 (18.4 overs) | 215/7 (20 overs) | New Zealand won by 50 runs |
| 31 January 2026 | 5th T20I (Night) | Thiruvananthapuram | 271/5 (20 overs) | 225 (19.4 overs) | India won by 46 runs |
The ODI series went to New Zealand 2-1. India fought back to dominate the T20I series 4-1.
India started strong in Vadodara, chasing 301 with six balls remaining. New Zealand leveled the series in Rajkot by chasing 285 with 15 balls to spare.
The decider in Indore saw New Zealand defend 337 runs successfully, their highest ODI total of the series.
The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline in the T20 format showed India’s power.
They posted 271/5 in Thiruvananthapuram, one of the highest T20I totals between these teams.
India’s dominance peaked in Guwahati, where they chased just 154 in only 10 overs, winning by 8 wickets.
Test Cricket Between The Teams
| Record Type | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 63 |
| India Wins | 22 |
| New Zealand Wins | 13 |
| Draws | 28 |
| India Win % | 34.9% |
| New Zealand Win % | 20.6% |
| Draw % | 44.4% |
Test cricket started between these nations in 1955 at Hyderabad. That first series had five matches, with India winning 2-0 and three ending in draws.
The draw rate of 44.4% stands out immediately. Nearly half of all Test matches end without a result. This reflects evenly matched teams that can battle for five days without breaking.
India’s 22 wins against New Zealand’s 13 give them a clear advantage. But those 28 draws show New Zealand doesn’t get dominated in Test cricket. They fight hard and often force stalemates.
ODI Cricket Statistics
| Record Type | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 116 |
| India Wins | 58 |
| New Zealand Wins | 50 |
| No Result | 8 |
| India Win % | 50.0% |
| New Zealand Win % | 43.1% |
The India vs New Zealand head to head ODI battle shows incredibly tight competition.
Their first ODI came during the 1975 Cricket World Cup, with India winning.
India’s 58-50 lead translates to exactly 50.0% win rate. New Zealand sits at 43.1%, remarkably close for a team with far fewer resources.
Eight matches ended without result, mostly rain interruptions accounting for 6.9% of total encounters.
T20I Format Performance
| Record Type | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 24 |
| India Wins | 13 |
| New Zealand Wins | 10 |
| Ties | 1 |
| India Win % | 54.2% |
| New Zealand Win % | 41.7% |
T20I cricket began between these teams in 2007. India leads with 13 wins from 24 matches, giving them 54.2% success rate.
One tied match adds drama to this format’s history. New Zealand’s 10 wins translate to 41.7% win rate.
Unlike ODIs, weather has never forced a no-result in T20Is between these teams.
Comparing Success Across Formats
| Format | India Win % | New Zealand Win % | Recent Form (Last 5 Bilateral) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test Cricket | 34.9% | 20.6% | India: 3 wins, NZ: 1 win, 1 draw |
| ODI Cricket | 50.0% | 43.1% | India: 3 wins, NZ: 2 wins |
| T20I Cricket | 54.2% | 41.7% | India: 3 wins, NZ: 2 wins |
These percentages exclude draws and ties. Recent form covers bilateral series from 2020 to 2024, not including ICC tournament matches.
India performs best in T20Is at 54.2%, followed by ODIs at 50.0%. Test cricket shows India’s smallest advantage at 34.9%.
New Zealand competes most effectively in ODIs, where their 43.1% win rate nearly matches India’s 50.0%.
Greatest Batsmen In This Rivalry
| Player | Team | Formats | Total Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | All formats | 2000+ runs |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | All formats | Leading scorer (NZ) |
| Virat Kohli | India | All formats | Significant aggregate |
| Martin Crowe | New Zealand | Test/ODI | Historical record |
| Rahul Dravid | India | Test/ODI | Historical record |
Sachin Tendulkar stands alone with over 2000 runs against New Zealand across all formats. His record spans nearly twenty years of consistent performance.
Kane Williamson leads New Zealand’s all-time scoring. Martin Crowe built his historical record primarily in Test and ODI cricket. Virat Kohli continues adding to India’s legacy in the modern era.
2026 Series Batting Stars
| Player | Team | Innings | Runs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | 2 | 215 | 215.00 |
| KL Rahul | India | 2 | 141 | 70.50 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 2 | 116 | 58.00 |
Daryl Mitchell dominated the ODI series with 215 runs at an incredible 215.00 average.
His consistency provided New Zealand with strong foundations in both completed innings.
KL Rahul’s 141 runs and Virat Kohli’s 116 runs supported India’s batting but couldn’t prevent the 2-1 ODI series loss.
2026 Series Bowling Leaders
| Player | Team | Innings | Wickets | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Jamieson | New Zealand | 2 | 5 | 22.20 |
| Kristian Clarke | New Zealand | 2 | 4 | 32.25 |
| Prasidh Krishna | India | 2 | 3 | 36.33 |
Kyle Jamieson’s five wickets at 22.20 troubled Indian batsmen consistently.
His pace and bounce created problems on Indian pitches throughout the ODI series.
New Zealand’s bowlers outperformed India’s in the ODI format, a key factor in their series victory.
All-Time Bowling Giants
| Player | Team | Formats | Best Figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anil Kumble | India | Test cricket | 10/74 |
| Richard Hadlee | New Zealand | Test cricket | Multiple 10-wicket hauls |
| Zaheer Khan | India | All formats | Significant aggregate |
| Daniel Vettori | New Zealand | All formats | Significant aggregate |
| Javagal Srinath | India | Test/ODI | Historical record |
Anil Kumble’s 10/74 remains the finest single-innings bowling performance in this rivalry. That spell ranks among Test cricket’s greatest individual efforts.
Richard Hadlee recorded multiple 10-wicket match hauls across different Test series.
His bowling gave New Zealand many victories during the 1980s dominance period.
Expert Insight: What Makes This Rivalry Special?
The India vs New Zealand cricket relationship thrives because both teams play the right way. No controversies, no sledging wars, just competitive cricket.
New Zealand maximizes its limited resources. Their player pool is tiny compared to India’s, yet they’ve won 50 ODIs and 13 Tests. Smart cricket and excellent fielding help them punch above their weight.
India brings overwhelming squad depth. When Kohli fails, Rahul delivers. When one bowler struggles, two others step up. That depth consistently wins tight series at home.
Psychology plays a role, too. New Zealand doesn’t fear India despite the resource gap. They’ve beaten India in World Cups and bilateral series. That confidence shows in pressure situations.
The January 2026 series demonstrated this perfectly. New Zealand won ODIs 2-1 on Indian soil, showing their ability to compete anywhere. India dominated T20Is 4-1, using their power-hitting advantage. Each team won in their stronger format.
Players Who Featured In 2026
| Team | Player | Role | Batting Style | Bowling Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | KL Rahul | Wicketkeeper-Batsman | Right-hand bat | – |
| India | Virat Kohli | Batsman | Right-hand bat | Right-arm medium |
| India | Prasidh Krishna | Bowler | Right-hand bat | Right-arm fast-medium |
| New Zealand | Daryl Mitchell | All-rounder | Right-hand bat | Right-arm medium |
| New Zealand | Kyle Jamieson | Bowler | Right-hand bat | Right-arm fast-medium |
| New Zealand | Kristian Clarke | Bowler | Right-hand bat | Right-arm medium |
These players shaped both series outcomes during the January 2026 tour.
Broadcasting And Streaming Information
Television Channels By Region
India:
- Star Sports 1 (English)
- Star Sports 1 Hindi
- Star Sports 1 HD
- Star Sports 1 Tamil
- Star Sports 1 Telugu
New Zealand:
- Sky Sport NZ
- Sky Sport Cricket
United Kingdom:
- Sky Sports Cricket
- Sky Sports Main Event
Australia:
- Fox Sports Cricket
- Kayo Sports
United States:
- Willow TV
- ESPN+
Middle East:
- OSN Sports Cricket HD
South Africa:
- SuperSport Cricket
- SuperSport Grandstand
Online Streaming Services
India:
- Disney+ Hotstar (subscription)
- JioTV (mobile app)
New Zealand:
- Sky Go
- Sky Sport Now
United Kingdom:
- Sky Go
- NOW TV
Australia:
- Kayo Sports
- Foxtel Go
United States:
- ESPN+
- Willow TV app
Canada:
- Willow TV app
- Hotstar Canada
Coverage begins 30 minutes before scheduled start times. Broadcasts include multi-camera angles with stump cam, boundary cam, and spider cam technology.
Your Questions Answered
- How many total matches have these teams played?
They’ve played 203 matches: 63 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 24 T20Is from 1955 through January 2026.
- What was the result of the January 2026 series?
New Zealand won the ODI series 2-1. India won the T20I series 4-1.
- Which format does India dominate most against New Zealand?
India’s best win percentage is 54.2% in T20Is, followed by 50.0% in ODIs and 34.9% in Tests.
- When did India and New Zealand first play?
They first met in 1955 in a Test match at Hyderabad. India won that inaugural series 2-0.
- Who scored the most runs in the 2026 ODI series?
Daryl Mitchell led with 215 runs at an average of 215.00 across the three ODI matches.
Seven Decades Of Cricket History
The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline covers 203 matches across 71 years.
The numbers show India holding overall advantages in every format.
But the margins stay competitive. New Zealand’s recent ODI series win proves they can challenge India anywhere.
India’s T20I dominance shows its evolution in the shortest format.
This rivalry keeps growing stronger.
Both teams produce quality cricketers who make every series worth watching.
The mutual respect ensures sporting contests that fans enjoy across both nations.
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