India begins T20I series against New Zealand
The Indian national cricket team is trending as they begin a five-match T20I series in New Zealand. The first game took place on October 22 in Christchurch, where India won the toss and chose to field first.
What happened
- Earlier
India wins the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup [1].
- Last week
India's series against West Indies ends in a 2-2 draw [1].
- 22 Oct, 2026
India captain Shreyas Iyer wins the toss and elects to field in the first T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch [2].
What you need to know
Shreyas Iyer is the captain of the Indian side [1].
The Indian squad for the first match includes returning players Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy [2].
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to the shortest format of the game [1].
The series consists of five T20I matches played across various New Zealand venues [2].
The outcome of the first match is not provided in the sources.
Background
India enters this series as the three-time ICC Men's T20 World Cup champions [1]. They have been active in the format recently, touring England, Zimbabwe, and Ireland, and winning a gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan [1].
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has noted that the series will require adaptation, as pitch conditions and boundary sizes vary significantly between cities like Christchurch, Wellington, and Hamilton [1].
Questions people ask
Who is captaining India in the New Zealand series?
Shreyas Iyer is leading the team [1].
Which players were added to the XI for the first match?
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Mayank Yadav joined the lineup, replacing Prince Yadav and Shivam Dube [2].
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.