India vs New Zealand T20I Series 2026: Squad, Schedule, Shreyas Iyer's Captaincy and Bhuvneshwar's Return, Explained
India play five T20Is in New Zealand from 22 October 2026, led by Shreyas Iyer with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns after nearly four years. Here is the full squad, the match schedule with dates and venues, the India A squad, and what to watch.
With the West Indies series wrapping up at home, India's next stop is New Zealand. A 16-member T20I squad led by Shreyas Iyer will play five T20Is starting 22 October 2026 in Christchurch, and the headline return is Bhuvneshwar Kumar, back after nearly four years. Here is the full squad, the schedule, and what to watch.
The 60-second version
- Series: 5 T20Is, 22 October to 1 November 2026.
- Captain: Shreyas Iyer. Vice-captain: Tilak Varma.
- Comebacks: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Chakaravarthy.
- Left out: Ravi Bishnoi.
- India A: Three multi-day games under Dhruv Jurel.
- Still to come: ODI and Test squads.
India T20I squad for New Zealand
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| Vice-captain | Tilak Varma |
| Batters | Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Naman Dhir |
| Wicketkeepers | Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan |
| All-rounders | Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy |
| Pace | Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav |
| Spin | Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy |
IND vs NZ T20I schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Thu, 22 Oct 2026 | Christchurch |
| 2nd T20I | Sat, 24 Oct 2026 | Christchurch |
| 3rd T20I | Tue, 27 Oct 2026 | Wellington |
| 4th T20I | Fri, 30 Oct 2026 | Auckland |
| 5th T20I | Sun, 1 Nov 2026 | Hamilton |
New Zealand is 7.5 hours ahead of IST until early April (daylight saving), so evening matches there usually start around lunchtime in India. Check the broadcaster's listing for exact start times.
India A squad and schedule
Squad: Dhruv Jurel (captain, wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Smaran, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper, subject to fitness), Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod, Mukesh Kumar.
| Match | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st multi-day | 24-27 Oct 2026 | Lincoln |
| 2nd multi-day | 31 Oct-3 Nov 2026 | Christchurch |
| 3rd multi-day | 7-10 Nov 2026 | Lincoln |
The presence of Jaiswal, Rahul and Pant in the A side suggests the selectors want Test players to get time in New Zealand conditions before the longer formats.
Five things to watch
- Iyer's captaincy. Iyer scored a maiden T20I hundred against West Indies this month, and leading in New Zealand is a real test of his tactics.
- Bhuvneshwar's swing. Seaming, breezy New Zealand pitches suit him perfectly. A strong series could earn him a longer run.
- The opening pair. Abhishek Sharma and teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi both offer explosive starts. Who partners whom will be a key selection call.
- Varun's return. Chakaravarthy's mystery spin has troubled New Zealand before, and Bishnoi's absence makes him the main wrist-spin option alongside Kuldeep.
- Pace depth. Mayank Yadav's raw speed and Prince Yadav give India new options for the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle.
The bigger picture
India arrive with momentum after winning the Asian Games gold and the ODI series against West Indies. New Zealand at home are always tougher than their ranking suggests, especially on small grounds like Hamilton and Wellington's breezy conditions. Expect high scores, and plenty of rain-related drama.
Squads and schedule are as announced by the BCCI on 6 October 2026. Match times and venues can change. Check the BCCI and broadcaster for the latest updates.
Frequently asked questions
›When does the India vs New Zealand T20I series start?
The five-match T20I series starts on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at Christchurch. The final match is on Sunday, 1 November 2026, at Hamilton.
›Who is India's captain for the New Zealand T20Is?
Shreyas Iyer is captain and Tilak Varma is vice-captain of the 16-member squad announced by the BCCI on 6 October 2026.
›Who are the new faces or returns in the squad?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns to the T20I squad after nearly four years, and Varun Chakaravarthy is back after injury. Ravi Bishnoi is not in the squad.
›Has India announced squads for ODIs and Tests in New Zealand?
Not yet. The BCCI said the ODI and Test squads would be announced later.
›Who is captain of India A in New Zealand?
Dhruv Jurel captains India A for three multi-day matches against New Zealand A between 24 October and 10 November 2026. The squad includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant (subject to fitness).