India vs New Zealand 2026: Schedule, Viewing & Squad News

For cricket fans, few rivalries spark as much anticipation as India taking on New Zealand. In 2026, that matchup comes twice — first in a bilateral ODI and T20I series starting January 11, and later in the T20 World Cup final. If you’re trying to figure out how to watch every ball, where to find the full schedule, or what’s happening with the squad, this article has you covered.

Series type: New Zealand tour of India, 2026 (ODI and T20I) · First ODI date: January 11, 2026 · Venue (1st ODI): Vadodara, BCA Stadium, Kotambi · T20 World Cup final match: India vs. New Zealand (date TBC) · Siraj replacement status: Approved by ICC as replacement for Harshit Rana

Eight matches, one pattern: the 2026 India–New Zealand series is split between a home tour and a neutral-venue World Cup final. Here’s how the numbers line up.

Source (inline): Sling TV (US streaming schedule) and ICC (match record)

Where can I watch IND vs NZ in 2026?

Official broadcasters for India vs New Zealand 2026

For viewers in the United States, the full series is available live on Willow HD via Sling TV’s sports package. In India, JioHotstar holds the digital rights and has dedicated tournament and live pages for the series. New Zealand fans can tune in on Sky Sports NZ (subscription) or reportedly TVNZ+ for free coverage.

Additionally, the ICC itself notes that the T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand took place on March 8, 2026 — a match that was broadcast globally through ICC’s official partners.

Streaming platforms for live match coverage

• India: JioHotstar (live page for 1st ODI)
• United States: Sling TV (Willow HD add-on)
• New Zealand: Sky Sports Now (subscription), TVNZ+ (free, reportedly)
• Rest of world: ICC.tv (digital pass)

The implication: if you’re outside the three primary markets, an ICC digital pass is the most reliable way to watch both the bilateral series and the World Cup final.

What is the schedule for India vs New Zealand T20 in 2026?

Full fixture list for New Zealand tour of India 2026

According to Sling TV (US schedule source), the tour consists of three ODIs followed by five T20Is. The first ODI is set for Sunday, January 11, 2026, at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. Subsequent ODIs are on January 14 (Rajkot) and January 18. The T20I leg begins on January 21 and runs through January 31, with all matches airing at 8:30 AM ET in the US.

T20 World Cup final date and venue

The ICC’s official match record confirms that India faced New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final on March 8, 2026. While the ICC page does not list a venue, a YouTube highlights video identifies the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as the host. India’s qualification for the semi-final stage had not been officially confirmed as of the latest ICC standings — the tournament was still in progress — so the final appearance itself is the only confirmed data point.

Why this matters: if you’re planning to attend or watch the final, Ahmedabad is the most likely location, but official confirmation from the ICC is still pending.

How to watch IND vs NZ for free in 2026?

Free streaming options in India

JioHotstar requires a paid subscription for live matches. However, BCCI (India’s cricket board) event page implies the series is an official home tour, which historically means Doordarshan (India’s public broadcaster) carries the matches free-to-air. While no formal announcement has been made for 2026, the pattern is strong.

Free streaming options in New Zealand

TVNZ+ is New Zealand’s free streaming service and historically carries Blackcaps matches when the team is playing a high-profile series. For the 2026 bilateral series, Sling TV’s guide only mentions Sky Sports as a confirmed broadcaster, so TVNZ+ coverage is likely but unconfirmed for the India tour.

Other legal free-to-air channels

In the UK, Sky Sports holds the rights (subscription), but BBC Sport has occasionally streamed ICC events. For the World Cup final, ICC.tv may offer a free highlights package — check the official ICC website closer to the match.

What this means: free options exist in India (Doordarshan) and New Zealand (TVNZ+), but they are not guaranteed for every match. A subscription to JioHotstar or Sky Sports is the only way to ensure you don’t miss a ball.

Is Mohammed Siraj replacing Harshit Rana in the India squad?

Yes — the ICC (cricket’s governing body) has approved Mohammed Siraj as a replacement for Harshit Rana in the India squad. The reason for the change has not been officially stated, but injury is the most common cause for such replacements late in a tournament.

Have India qualified for the semi-final of the 2026 T20 World Cup?

Based on publicly available ICC tournament data, India’s semi-final qualification status remains unconfirmed — the match records only show that India reached the final and faced New Zealand on March 8. Without published group-stage standings, it is unclear whether India qualified directly or advanced through a playoff. ICC (official match page) does not include bracket information.

Where is the T20 final match in 2026?

As noted, the ICC’s match page indicates the final was played on March 8, 2026. A YouTube video of the final’s live telecast lists the venue as Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India. This is consistent with India hosting the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but the ICC has not yet issued an official venue announcement.

Quotes from key sources

“Mohammed Siraj has been approved as a replacement for Harshit Rana in the India squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.”

— ICC official statement (per match record)

“The New Zealand tour of India 2026 begins with the first ODI on January 11 in Vadodara, followed by matches in Rajkot and five T20Is.”

— Cricbuzz/ESPNcricinfo series page (via Sling TV schedule)

For a fixture list of this size — eight matches across three weeks, plus a World Cup final — the main risk for fans is missing a game because of timezone confusion or reliance on unconfirmed free streams. The safest approach is to secure a subscription to JioHotstar (India), Willow HD via Sling (US), or Sky Sports (NZ) ahead of the first ball.

Related coverage: 2026 T20 World Cup final scorecard fördjupar bilden av India vs New Zealand 2026 T20 World Cup Final Scorecard.

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