New Zealand to play India in ODI and T20I series in January 2026: Venues, Dates, and Match Highlights

Cricket fans are in for a treat at the start of 2026, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed New Zealand's tour of India for a white-ball series. Between January 11 and January 31, 2026, the trip will consist of three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and five T20 Internationals (T20Is). 

This series will be the first bilateral meeting between the two teams since India triumphed over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final earlier this year.

Vadodara Returns to the Spotlight:

The ODI leg of the tour will begin on January 11 at the newly-built Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, marking the city's return to men's international cricket after more than 15 years. Vadodara last hosted a men's ODI in 2010, where India faced New Zealand and Gautam Gambhir was awarded Player of the Match for his century. Interestingly, Virat Kohli—still active in ODIs—was also part of that match, scoring an unbeaten 63.

Following the opener in Vadodara, the teams will move to Rajkot on January 14 for the second ODI, and then to Indore on January 18 to wrap up the 50-over series. It is expected that senior Indian players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are still eligible for ODIs despite having retired from T20I and Test matches, will be placed in this category.

T20Is to Shape India's World Cup Preparations:

Nagpur will host the opening encounter of the five-match T20I series on January 21. Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram will follow on January 23 and 25, respectively. India will use these games as their last training sessions for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which they will co-host alongside Sri Lanka. The Indian T20I squad is likely to be led by Suryakumar Yadav, with younger players and fringe talent expected to play a major role.

New Zealand's Schedule Ahead:

For New Zealand, this tour provides a key opportunity to test their depth ahead of a packed cricket calendar. Following their India series, they are scheduled to play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, continuing their Asian leg.

Series Schedule at a Glance

ODIs:

Jan 11 – 1st ODI – Vadodara

Jan 14 – 2nd ODI – Rajkot

Jan 18 – 3rd ODI – Indore

T20Is:

Jan 21 – 1st T20I – Nagpur

Jan 23 – 2nd T20I – Raipur

Jan 25 – 3rd T20I – Guwahati

Jan 28 – 4th T20I – Visakhapatnam

Jan 31 – 5th T20I – Thiruvananthapuram

In addition to reviving an intense rivalry between India and New Zealand, this tour provides vital background information for both teams' preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup.