India's longest tour of the season is a full set of formats in New Zealand: five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests across six weeks, starting on 22 October and ending on 1 December. Twelve matches, six venues and three different squads to follow, with the T20I squads already named.
The time difference is the thing to plan around. The T20Is start at 12:30 PM IST, the ODIs at 7:30 AM IST and the Tests in the early hours of the morning, so most Indian fans will watch the T20Is live and catch up on the rest. Every match is live on CricketDream with fantasy, draft and predictor games.
Five T20Is, 22 October to 1 November
Five ODIs, 4 to 15 November
Two Tests, from 19 and 27 November
India T20I squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma (vc)
Shreyas Iyer captains India with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. The squad leans young: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Naman Dhir are in, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are the two wicketkeepers, and Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel cover the allrounder spots. Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns to the bowling group alongside Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav.
New Zealand T20I squad: Mitchell Santner (c)
Mitchell Santner leads a strong home squad. Finn Allen and Devon Conway can open, Tim Seifert is the wicketkeeper option, and the allrounders include Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Zak Foulkes and Nathan Smith. The pace attack of Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne and Jacob Duffy is the strength of the side at home.
The ODI and Test squads for both sides have not been announced yet. This guide is updated when they are, and the squads load into CricketDream so you can build teams for those matches too.
Fantasy approach across three formats
- T20Is: favour the top six batters and allrounders who bat in the top five. Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips are the natural high-ceiling picks.
- New Zealand's pace group is the strength of the home side, so pace bowlers are worth a close look in every format. Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson are strong captain options.
- ODIs: ODI fantasy rewards bowlers who complete ten overs and batters who bat through the middle. Plan around your best two or three wicket-takers.
- Tests: pick allrounders and strike bowlers who play in both innings, then check the confirmed XI. A squad place is not a guarantee in a two-match series.
- Switching formats: do not carry T20 logic into the ODIs. Strike rate matters less, and survival and total overs matter more.
The 7:30 AM IST ODI starts are good for the early riser, but the lock is earlier still. Set a reminder for the team lock rather than the toss. CricketDream can send match reminders if you turn them on.
What to expect
New Zealand are strong at home in the shorter formats, and this squad has the pace and the power hitters to trouble India in the T20Is. India's squad has depth in batting and spin, so the series is likely to be competitive. Make your own call before each match in a free Predictor game.
Play free on CricketDream
Every CricketDream game is free, with no entry fee and no prize pool. Pick 11 players within the credit budget, choose a captain (2x points) and vice-captain (1.5x points), and your score updates live through the match.
Build your free Fantasy XI for the 1st T20I, New Zealand vs India in Christchurch.
Build Fantasy XIFrequently asked questions
When does India tour New Zealand in 2026?
The tour runs from 22 October to 1 December 2026: five T20Is (22 October to 1 November), five ODIs (4 to 15 November) and two Tests (starting 19 and 27 November).
What time do the matches start in India?
T20Is start at 12:30 PM IST, ODIs at 7:30 AM IST and the Tests at about 3:30 AM IST on day one.
Who captains India and New Zealand?
Shreyas Iyer captains India and Tilak Varma is vice-captain in the T20I squad. Mitchell Santner captains New Zealand in the T20Is.
Are the ODI and Test squads announced?
Not yet. Only the T20I squads for both teams have been named. This page is updated as the other squads are announced.
Where are the matches played?
Hagley Oval in Christchurch, Hnry Stadium in Wellington, Eden Park in Auckland, Seddon Park in Hamilton and Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, with the Tests at the Basin Reserve in Wellington and the Hagley Oval.
Is CricketDream fantasy free to play?
Yes. Fantasy XI, Draft, Multi-Draft, Predictor, Cricket Quiz and CricketQuest are all completely free, with no entry fees and no cash prizes. You can play this series for fun and bragging rights with friends.
Where can I follow the live score?
CricketDream is not a broadcaster. Check your local rights holder for the live stream, and use each CricketDream match page for the live score, confirmed playing XIs and your fantasy points as they update.