Cricket fans have watched India and New Zealand battle for 71 years.
The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline covers every match, series, and memorable moment since 1955.
These teams don’t just play cricket against each other. They’ve built a rivalry based on mutual respect and competitive spirit.
From epic Test draws to last-ball T20 thrillers, this timeline has it all.
Let’s break down the complete head-to-head record and explore what makes this cricket relationship special.
India Vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline
Recent Series Results (January 2026)
The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline today shows a split decision from their latest bilateral series.
New Zealand toured India for three ODIs and five T20Is between January 11 and 31, 2026.
| 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 |
New Zealand won the ODI series 2-1 after dropping the opening match. India bounced back strongly in the T20I format, winning 4-1.
The ODI series featured high-scoring encounters. India chased 301 with six balls remaining in Vadodara, showing their batting depth.
New Zealand responded by successfully defending 337 in Indore, their highest total of the series.
The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline T20 series belonged to India.
They posted 271/5 in the final match at Thiruvananthapuram, one of the highest T20I totals in this rivalry.
New Zealand managed just one win in Visakhapatnam despite posting 215/7.
India Vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Statistics
Test Cricket Records
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| 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 between these nations started in 1955 in Hyderabad.
That inaugural series consisted of five matches, with India winning 2-0 and three ending in draws.
The draw percentage sits at 44.4%, higher than most other bilateral Test series.
This shows how evenly matched these teams can be over five days.
When you watch India play New Zealand in Tests, expect tight contests that go deep into the final sessions.
ODI Cricket Records
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| 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 record shows incredibly close competition. India’s first ODI victory against New Zealand came during the 1975 Cricket World Cup.
India leads 58-50 in completed matches. That 50.0% win rate for India against New Zealand’s 43.1% shows minimal separation.
Eight matches produced no result due to weather interruptions, a 6.9% no-result rate.
T20I Cricket Records
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 24 |
| India Wins | 13 |
| New Zealand Wins | 10 |
| Ties | 1 |
| India Win % | 54.2% |
| New Zealand Win % | 41.7% |
T20I encounters started in 2007 after the format gained international status. India dominates with 13 wins from 24 matches, a 54.2% success rate.
One tied match adds unique drama to this format’s history. Zero no-result matches have occurred in T20Is between these teams, unlike ODIs, where rain has played spoiler eight times.
Format-Wise Performance Analysis
| 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 |
Win percentages exclude draws from Test calculations and ties from limited-overs formats.
Recent form covers bilateral series from 2020-2024, excluding ICC tournament matches.
India performs strongest in T20Is, followed closely by ODIs. New Zealand shows better competitiveness in ODI cricket compared to the other formats.
Their 43.1% ODI win rate demonstrates they can match India in 50-over cricket.
Leading Run-Scorers All-Time
| Player | Team | Format Coverage | 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 towers above everyone with over 2000 runs against New Zealand across all formats.
His record spans nearly two decades of matches.
Kane Williamson leads New Zealand’s all-time scoring against India.
Virat Kohli continues building his significant run total in the modern era, already joining Tendulkar among India’s top scorers in this rivalry.
January 2026 Series Top Performers
ODI Series Leading Batsmen
| 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’s 215 runs at an average of 215.00 powered New Zealand’s ODI series victory.
His consistency across multiple innings gave New Zealand solid platforms.
KL Rahul and Virat Kohli contributed significantly to India, but couldn’t prevent the 2-1 series loss.
ODI Series Leading Bowlers
| 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 throughout the ODI series.
His pace and bounce proved difficult on Indian pitches.
New Zealand’s bowling attack outperformed India’s in ODIs, a key factor in their series win.
Greatest Wicket-Takers All-Time
| Player | Team | Format Coverage | 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 stands as the best single-innings bowling performance in this rivalry. That spell remains one of Test cricket’s finest individual efforts.
Richard Hadlee recorded multiple 10-wicket match performances across different Test series. His dominance with the ball gave New Zealand many victories in the 1980s.
Expert Insight: Why This Rivalry Works
The India vs New Zealand cricket relationship succeeds because both teams approach matches the right way. There’s no sledging, no controversy, just quality cricket.
New Zealand punches above its weight. With a player pool fraction of India’s size, they’ve still won 50 ODIs and 13 Tests. They maximize talent through smart cricket and excellent fielding.
India brings depth and star power. When Kohli fails, Rahul can deliver. When one bowler struggles, two others can step up. That squad depth wins tight series.
The psychological aspect matters too. New Zealand doesn’t fear India as some teams do. They’ve beaten India in World Cups and at home. That confidence shows in close matches when pressure mounts.
The January 2026 series proved this perfectly. New Zealand won ODIs despite India’s home advantage. India dominated T20Is with their batting firepower. Each team won in its stronger format.
Key Players From 2026 Tour
| 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 featured prominently in January 2026. Their performances shaped both series outcomes.
How To Watch India vs New Zealand Matches?
Television Broadcasting
India Territory:
- Star Sports 1 (English commentary)
- Star Sports 1 Hindi
- Star Sports 1 HD
- Star Sports 1 Tamil
- Star Sports 1 Telugu
New Zealand Territory:
- 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
Streaming Platforms
India:
- Disney+ Hotstar (subscription required)
- 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 starts 30 minutes before match time. Broadcasts include multi-camera angles with stump cam, boundary cam, and spider cam.
Commentator panels feature former international cricketers and professional broadcasters.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many matches have India and New Zealand played against each other?
They’ve played 203 total matches: 63 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 24 T20Is from 1955 through January 2026.
- Who won the January 2026 series?
New Zealand won the ODI series 2-1. India won the T20I series 4-1.
- What is India’s win percentage against New Zealand in ODIs?
India has a 50.0% win rate in ODIs, winning 58 of 116 completed matches.
- When did India and New Zealand first play cricket?
They first met in 1955 in a Test match at Hyderabad. India won that 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.
The Complete Timeline Story
The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline covers 203 matches across 71 years.
The numbers show competitive cricket in every format, with India holding overall advantages.
New Zealand’s recent ODI series victory proves they remain dangerous opponents anywhere.
India’s T20I dominance shows its evolution in the shortest format.
Both teams continue producing quality cricketers who make every series worth watching.
This rivalry will keep growing. The mutual respect between players and fans ensures clean, competitive cricket.
Future series promise more close finishes and memorable performances from both sides.
Also Check:
- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Winners List
- IND vs NZ Final Dream11 Prediction T20 World Cup 2026
- Who Was the First Player to hit Six Sixes in the 2007 World Cup
- Who Was the First Indian Cricketer to Hit Six Sixes in an Over
- Hardik Pandya Net Worth
- Cricketers With Fastest 5000 Runs in ODIs
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