According to NZC, the series marks India’s return to Test cricket in New Zealand after 2019, while also ending a white-ball absence since 2022. The New Zealand government will support the tour as part of commemorations marking 100 years of sporting relations between New Zealand and India, underlining the diplomatic and cultural significance of the series.
The tour will commence at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, which will host the opening two T20 Internationals on October 22 and October 24. Christchurch will also stage the second Test match from November 27 to December 1, anchoring the closing phase of the series.
Wellington’s Basin Reserve has been awarded the first Test, scheduled from November 19 to November 23. The city will also host one T20 International and one One Day International at Hnry Stadium. Auckland’s Eden Park and Hamilton’s Seddon Park will each stage one T20 International and one One Day International, ensuring a balanced multi-city distribution of fixtures. Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval will host the final two One Day Internationals on November 13 and November 15.
The five-match T20 International series will be played across Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, and Hamilton. The schedule begins with two matches in Christchurch, followed by fixtures in Wellington on October 27, Auckland on October 30, and Hamilton on November 1.
The One Day International series will begin on November 4 in Auckland, followed by Wellington on November 7, Hamilton on November 10, and two consecutive matches in Mount Maunganui on November 13 and November 15.
India’s tour is expected to be one of the most significant cricketing events in New Zealand in recent years, with global stars such as Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah anticipated to attract substantial international attention and large spectator turnout.
NZC Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Glenn Critchley emphasized the broader significance of the tour, stating, “This will be about more than just the cricket on the field. It will be a celebration of New Zealand's shared history and culture with India, and our growing rivalry and friendship through cricket.” He further noted the exceptional global following of the Indian team and the intensity surrounding players such as Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, adding that preparations are underway for the scale of excitement expected.
Following the India series, the New Zealand men’s team, known as the Black Caps, will travel to Australia for a four-Test series before returning home to host Sri Lanka in a multi-format tour comprising three One Day Internationals, three Twenty20 Internationals, and two Test matches between January and February 2027.
The New Zealand women’s team, the White Ferns, will host Bangladesh for three Twenty20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals from December 10 to December 23, as part of their only home assignment of the summer. This follows scheduling adjustments after the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka was rescheduled to February, resulting in changes to New Zealand’s planned tour of Australia in early 2027.
With 12 international matches scheduled across formats and cities, India’s tour stands as a historic highlight of New Zealand’s 2026–27 home cricket season, reinforcing its status as one of the most anticipated global cricketing events of the year.
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