How to watch New Zealand vs India 1st T20I 2026 live in India: Date, timings, venue and live streaming

After a 2-2 drawn T20I series at home, India will take on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series away, starting on October 22 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. It marks the start of the 35-day tour, which includes five T20Is, five ODIs, and two Test matches.  

It will be a massive challenge for the Shreyas Iyer-led side on those surfaces. The pitches won’t be flat, and most importantly, the ground dimensions make it incredibly hard for the batters, bowlers, fielders, and the captain to judge the small margins of the game. 

NZ vs IND 1st T20I 2026: Date, timing, venue and series schedule

The opening T20I of the series will be played on October 22 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, which will also host the second game of the series two days later. The game will begin at 12:30 pm IST, with the toss taking place at 12 o’clock.

The massive question remains whether India would bring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the opening partnership, with the 15-year-old missing all eight T20Is at home against the West Indies and Afghanistan, collectively.

See Also: “Waiting for my opportunity”: Mohammed Shami breaks silence on missing India’s New Zealand tour

India’s squad for the T20I series: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav

New Zealand’s squad for the T20I series: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Nathan Smith.

NZ vs IND 1st T20I live streaming and TV channel in India

The opening T20I between New Zealand and India will be broadcast live in India on the Sony Sports Network and available for live streaming on the Sony LIV app and website.

In New Zealand, Sky Sports has won back the rights from TVNZ. In Australia, Fox Cricket will telecast the games, while SuperSport has taken charge of the games in South Africa.

See Also: Rishabh Pant doubtful as India announce 16-member Test squad vs New Zealand

India vs New Zealand 2026: English commentators-

Ian Smith, Ravi Shastri, Stephen Fleming, Simon Doull, Katey Martin, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, and Shane Bond