India and New Zealand meet in the series opener on January 21, 2026, at Nagpur’s Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
This five-match series serves as the final preparation before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins in India on February 7.
Both teams enter with contrasting momentum.
India seeks redemption after losing the ODI series 2-1, while New Zealand aims to build confidence ahead of the global tournament.
The IND vs NZ 1st T20I 2026 Match Prediction with Odds suggests a competitive encounter.
The Nagpur pitch traditionally offers assistance to fast bowlers early and spinners later.
IND vs NZ 1st T20I 2026 Match Prediction with Odds
With India’s strong home record and New Zealand’s adaptability, this match sets the tone for an intense series featuring tactical battles and high-stakes cricket.
Winning And Toss Odds for India vs New Zealand 1st T20I Match
| Platform | India Win Odds | New Zealand Win Odds | Toss Odds (India) | Toss Odds (New Zealand) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.65 | 2.35 | 1.85 | 1.95 |
| Stake | 2.00 | 2.30 | 1.87 | 1.93 |
| 4RABET | 2.00 | 2.38 | 1.86 | 1.94 |
| BeVibe | 2.00 | 2.40 | 1.84 | 1.96 |
Betting platforms favor India based on their four consecutive T20I series victories against New Zealand, including two home series wins.
The IND vs NZ 1st T20I 2026 Match Odds reflect India’s home advantage and recent dominance in bilateral contests.
Toss odds remain competitive, indicating balanced conditions expected at the venue.
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I: Match Facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | IND vs NZ, 1st T20I |
| Series | New Zealand tour of India, 2026 |
| Date | January 21, Wednesday |
| Time | 07:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur |
India vs New Zealand Squad for 1st T20I
Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar are ruled out due to health concerns.
Shreyas Iyer replaces Tilak for at least three matches, while Ravi Bishnoi comes in for Washington for the complete series.
Both teams have announced their final squads for the opener.
India Squad
- Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Rinku Singh
- Shreyas Iyer
- Abhishek Sharma
- Shivam Dube
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Harshit Rana
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Ravi Bishnoi
New Zealand Squad
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Mark Chapman
- Tim Robinson
- Michael Bracewell
- Bevon Jacobs
- Daryl Mitchell
- James Neesham
- Glenn Phillips
- Rachin Ravindra
- Zakary Foulkes
- Devon Conway (wk)
- Jacob Duffy
- Matt Henry
- Kyle Jamieson
- Ish Sodhi
Pitch Report of Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | The pitch is good for batting, offering steady bounce and pace. The ball comes nicely onto the bat throughout the match. |
| Batting Assistance | Batters get support, especially in the early overs. The surface suits attacking shots once the batter settles. |
| Bowling Assistance | Fast bowlers may find movement with the new ball, while spinners get assistance as the pitch slows later. |
| Ground Dimensions | Square boundaries are around 77 meters, straight boundaries are 73 meters. |
| T20I First Innings Score | The average first-innings score is about 163, which is defendable with good bowling. |
| Toss & Dew Factor | Teams often prefer to bat first, as most matches have been won that way. Dew can help chase sides in the evening. |
The pitch offers balanced conditions for the IND vs NZ 1st T20I 2026 Preview. Check VCA Stadium Jamtha Nagpur Records in T20i with Pitch Report.
Fast bowlers should exploit early movement before spinners take control in the middle and death overs.
The 163-run average suggests competitive totals are achievable with disciplined batting approaches.
Weather Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 29°C |
| Weather | Sunny day with dew expected |
| Precipitation | No chance of rain |
| Humidity | 40% |
| Wind | 13 km/h, assisting pacers |
The 29°C temperature provides comfortable playing conditions for both teams.
The dew expected later in the evening may assist the chasing side, making toss decisions critical for the ind vs nz 1st T20I 2026 match prediction, preview & odds.
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head in T20Is
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 25 |
| India Won | 14 |
| New Zealand Won | 10 |
| Tied | 01 |
| Bilateral Series Record | India won 5 out of 8 bilateral series |
India leads the T20I rivalry with 14 victories, compared to New Zealand’s 10 wins. In bilateral series contests, India has won five out of eight series, demonstrating consistent dominance in head-to-head encounters.
Key Players to Watch
| Player | Team | Key T20I Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Hardik Pandya | India | 2002 runs and 101 wickets in 124 matches |
| Jasprit Bumrah | India | 103 wickets in 80 innings at an economy of 6.39 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | India | 55 wickets in 33 games at an economy of 6.96 |
| Tim Robinson | New Zealand | 540 runs in 23 innings at an average of 31.76 |
| James Neesham | New Zealand | 1010 runs and 56 wickets in 93 matches |
| Ish Sodhi | New Zealand | 157 wickets in 132 games at an economy of 7.98 |
Conclusion: IND vs NZ 1st T20I 2026 Match Prediction, Preview & Odds
The ind vs nz 1st T20I 2026 match prediction, preview & odds indicate a competitive contest with multiple tactical layers.
Key factors for the IND vs NZ 1st T20I 2026 Match Prediction include:
- Match Timing: 7:00 PM IST start allows dew to play a role in the second innings
- Conditions Summary: 29°C temperature with 40% humidity creates balanced playing conditions for both batting and bowling units
- Tactical Focus Areas: Spinners will be crucial in middle overs, death bowling execution determines match outcomes, and powerplay batting sets the tone
India’s squad depth and home conditions provide advantages, but New Zealand’s adaptability cannot be dismissed.
The pitch supports both disciplines equally, ensuring the ind vs nz 1st T20I 2026 match prediction, preview & odds remain evenly balanced.
Both teams enter with World Cup preparation as their primary objective, making this opener strategically significant beyond the results of the bilateral contest.
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