The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline spans nearly seven decades of competitive cricket.
These two teams have faced each other across 203 matches in all formats since their first meeting in 1955.
Their rivalry has produced countless memorable moments.
From epic Test battles to thrilling last-over finishes in limited-overs cricket, this timeline captures it all.
Let’s explore the complete head-to-head record, recent series results, and what makes this cricket rivalry special.
India Vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline
India Vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline: Recent Matches (2026)
January 2026 Series Results
The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline today concluded with a split decision. New Zealand won the ODI series while India dominated the T20Is.
| Date | Match | Venue | India Score | New Zealand Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 2026 | 1st ODI | Vadodara | 306/6 (49 overs) | 300/8 (50 overs) | India won by 4 wickets |
| 14 Jan 2026 | 2nd ODI | Rajkot | 284/7 (50 overs) | 286/3 (47.3 overs) | New Zealand won by 7 wickets |
| 18 Jan 2026 | 3rd ODI | Indore | 296 (46 overs) | 337/8 (50 overs) | New Zealand won by 41 runs |
| 21 Jan 2026 | 1st T20I | Nagpur | 238/7 (20 overs) | 190/7 (20 overs) | India won by 48 runs |
| 23 Jan 2026 | 2nd T20I | Raipur | 209/3 (15.2 overs) | 208/6 (20 overs) | India won by 7 wickets |
| 25 Jan 2026 | 3rd T20I | Guwahati | 155/2 (10 overs) | 153/9 (20 overs) | India won by 8 wickets |
| 28 Jan 2026 | 4th T20I | Visakhapatnam | 165 (18.4 overs) | 215/7 (20 overs) | New Zealand won by 50 runs |
| 31 Jan 2026 | 5th T20I | Thiruvananthapuram | 271/5 (20 overs) | 225 (19.4 overs) | India won by 46 runs |
India chased 301 runs in the opening ODI with six balls remaining.
New Zealand responded by chasing 285 with 15 balls to spare in Rajkot.
The decisive third ODI saw New Zealand defend 337 runs successfully.
The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline T20 format, tilted heavily toward India.
They won four matches, including a massive 271/5 posting in the series finale.
Complete Head-to-Head Statistics
Test Match Records
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 63 |
| India Wins | 22 |
| New Zealand Wins | 13 |
| Draws | 28 |
| Ties | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
Test cricket between India and New Zealand began in 1955 at Hyderabad. That first series featured five matches with India winning 2-0 and three ending in draws.
The draw percentage sits at 44.4%, showing how evenly matched these teams can be. India’s win percentage reaches 34.9% while New Zealand manages 20.6%.
ODI Match Records
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 116 |
| India Wins | 58 |
| New Zealand Wins | 50 |
| Ties | 0 |
| No Result | 8 |
The India vs New Zealand head to head ODI battle started during the 1975 Cricket World Cup. India grabbed their first ODI win against New Zealand in that tournament.
India leads with 58 wins against New Zealand’s 50 victories. That translates to a 50.0% win rate for India compared to New Zealand’s 43.1%. Eight matches produced no result due to weather.
T20I Match Records
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 24 |
| India Wins | 13 |
| New Zealand Wins | 10 |
| Ties | 1 |
| No Result | 0 |
T20I matches started in 2007 after the format gained international status. India dominates this format with 13 victories from 24 matches, a 54.2% success rate.
New Zealand has won 10 matches for a 41.7% win percentage. One tied match adds a unique flavor to this format’s history between these teams.
Win Percentage Comparison 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 from Test calculations and ties from limited-overs formats. Recent form covers bilateral series from 2020 to 2024, not including ICC tournament matches.
India performs strongest in T20Is, followed closely by ODIs. New Zealand shows better results in ODI cricket compared to other formats.
All-Time Top Run-Scorers
| 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 stands above everyone with over 2000 runs against New Zealand across all formats. His consistency made him a constant threat whenever these teams met.
Kane Williamson leads New Zealand’s all-time scoring against India. Virat Kohli continues adding to his significant run total in the current era.
January 2026 Series Top Performers
Leading Run-Scorers (ODI Series)
| 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 average of 215.00.
His batting gave New Zealand the platform for their 2-1 series win.
KL Rahul and Virat Kohli led India’s batting efforts but couldn’t prevent the series loss.
Leading Wicket-Takers (ODI Series)
| 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 helped New Zealand control the ODI series. His pace troubled Indian batsmen consistently.
New Zealand’s bowling attack outperformed India’s in the ODI format, contributing to their series victory.
All-Time Top Wicket-Takers
| 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 represents the best single-innings bowling between these teams. Richard Hadlee recorded multiple 10-wicket match performances across different Test series.
Zaheer Khan and Daniel Vettori troubled opposition batsmen across all formats for over a decade each.
Key Players From 2026 Series
| 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 the January 2026 series. The table shows their classifications according to ICC standards.
Expert Insight: What The Numbers Really Show?
The statistics reveal a closer rivalry than most people realize. India leads overall, but look deeper, and you see competitive cricket.
New Zealand’s 43.1% ODI win rate against India shows they can match India in limited-overs cricket. That’s remarkably close for a team with far fewer players to choose from.
The 44.4% draw rate in Tests tells another story. When these teams play five-day cricket, neither dominates completely. Draws happen when both sides stay competitive throughout.
India’s 54.2% T20I win rate represents its biggest format advantage. But even here, New Zealand has won 10 of 24 matches. That’s enough to win a series and cause upsets.
The January 2026 results fit the pattern perfectly. New Zealand won ODIs 2-1, India took T20Is 4-1. Each team won in its stronger format.
Broadcasting Information
Television Coverage
| Territory | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| India | Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 HD |
| 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 |
Streaming Platforms
| Territory | Platform |
|---|---|
| India | Disney+ Hotstar, JioTV |
| 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 scheduled match times. Broadcasts include stump camera, boundary camera, and aerial spider camera angles.
Common Questions About India vs New Zealand Stats
- How many matches have India and New Zealand played against each other?
They’ve played 203 matches total: 63 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 24 T20Is from 1955 to 2026.
- Who won the January 2026 series between India and New Zealand?
New Zealand won the ODI series 2-1. India won the T20I series 4-1.
- What is India’s best win percentage against New Zealand?
India’s best win percentage is 54.2% in T20I cricket, followed by 50.0% in ODIs.
- 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.
- What are the head-to-head ODI numbers?
India has won 58 ODIs, New Zealand 50, with 8 no results from 116 total matches.
The Statistical Story
The India vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline covers 203 matches across 71 years.
The numbers show competitive cricket in every format.
India holds advantages in all three formats, but the margins stay close.
New Zealand’s recent ODI series win proves they remain dangerous opponents.
These statistics will keep changing as both teams continue playing.
The rivalry maintains its competitive edge through quality cricket and mutual respect.
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