The first ball of New Zealand vs India's five-match T20I series is scheduled for 8am at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday, October 22. The series runs across three New Zealand cities through November 1, with Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton each hosting one leg of it.
India arrive as two-time defending T20 World Champions, fresh off a 2-2 series draw against the West Indies at home and a gold medal at the Asian Games. New Zealand, by contrast, haven't played an international since a July 22 clash with the West Indies, meaning captain Mitchell Santner's side will be shaking off three months of rust against a red-hot opponent.
Where to watch
Country | Channel or service | Free or paid --- | --- | --- United States | Willow TV (via cable or Sling TV's Desi Binge Plus / Dakshin Flex plans, from $10/month) | Paid United Kingdom | TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports 3 (via Sky, Virgin Media, EE TV, or HBO Max, from £25.99/month annual) | Paid India | Sony Sports Network (TV) and Sony LIV (streaming, from ₹599/year Mobile-Only plan) | Paid Australia | Fox Cricket via Foxtel, streaming on Kayo Sports (from AU$30/month, 7-day free trial) | Paid, with a free trial New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ (satellite or Sky Sport Now, from $29.99/day or $54.99/month) | Paid
Every rights holder listed requires a paid subscription or cable package for full coverage, though Kayo Sports in Australia offers a seven-day free trial and a AU$1 first-month option for new sign-ups, which covers live access without the full monthly cost.
What to expect
Shreyas Iyer, India's T20I captain, has had an uneven run in the role so far. He's won just one series away from home, against Zimbabwe, while losing series to Ireland and England by a combined 0-6 scoreline. A five-match stretch in New Zealand gives him a chance to settle that record, and India have history on their side: they won their last T20I tour here in 2022, 1-0 across three matches.
The squad also marks the return of pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, back in India colors for the first time since November 2022 after a strong IPL season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He joins a batting lineup built around Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma.
New Zealand will be without all-rounder Rachin Ravindra, ruled out after dislocating his shoulder last week, but otherwise field much of the squad that lost to India in the T20 World Cup final. Santner leads a group that includes Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips and quick Lockie Ferguson.
The second T20I follows on Saturday, October 24, also at Hagley Oval, before the series shifts to Wellington's Hnry Stadium on October 27, Auckland's Eden Park on October 30 and Hamilton's Seddon Park for the finale on November 1.
SDFiled by The Software Desk
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