After a gripping ODI series that went down to the wire, India and New Zealand switched formats as they clashed in the 1st T20I of the New Zealand tour of India 2026 on Wednesday, January 21, at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
New Zealand enter the T20I series high on confidence after a historic 2–1 ODI series victory, while India will be eager to hit back and reassert their dominance in the shortest format on home soil.
Below is The Betting Professionals’ (TBP) expert analysis, featuring match preview, team news, head-to-head stats, pitch report, betting odds, and prediction.
IND vs NZ – Match Details (1st T20I, 2026)
Match | India vs New Zealand |
Match No. | 1st T20I |
Format | T20I |
Date | 21 January 2026 |
Time | 7:00 PM IST |
Venue | Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur |
Series | New Zealand tour of India 2026 |
Match Preview: India vs New Zealand – 1st T20I
With the T20 World Cup just weeks away, this five-match T20I series carries significant importance for both teams. India will look to settle combinations and regain momentum, while New Zealand aim to script history by winning their first-ever bilateral T20I series in India.
India (IND) Preview
All eyes will be on Suryakumar Yadav, who is set to earn his 100th T20I cap in Nagpur. However, the milestone arrives during a challenging phase, with the Indian skipper averaging just 17.26 in his last 14 T20I innings.
With expectations mounting ahead of the World Cup, India will hope their captain rediscovers the fearless, 360-degree strokeplay that once made him the most feared batter in world cricket.
India Predicted Playing XI
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy
New Zealand (NZ) Preview
Led by the tactically astute Mitchell Santner, New Zealand arrive in India brimming with confidence. Their 2–1 ODI series triumph has already rewritten history, and now they have their sights set on another elusive milestone.
Despite 11 previous attempts, New Zealand have never won a bilateral T20I series in India—a statistic they will be keen to change in 2026.
New Zealand Predicted Playing XI
Devon Conway (WK), Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (C), Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
Matches Played: 25
India Wins: 12
New Zealand Wins: 10
No Result/Tied: 3
📊 Slight edge: India
Pitch Report – VCA Stadium, Nagpur
Nagpur is known for producing flat, batting-friendly surfaces, often resulting in high-scoring encounters.
Excellent true bounce for batters
Spinners get assistance when bowling slower and giving flight
Big totals are common, especially batting first
📌 A high-scoring opener to the series is expected
India vs New Zealand Betting Odds – 1st T20I
As per the latest 1xBet odds:
India to Win: 1.34
New Zealand to Win: 3.47
📈 Clear favourites: India
India vs New Zealand Win Probability
According to Google’s prediction model:
India Win Probability: 74%
New Zealand Win Probability: 26%
📊 India heavily favoured in Nagpur
IND vs NZ Match Prediction – TBP Expert Verdict
India’s home advantage, stronger bowling attack, and familiarity with conditions make them favourites in the series opener. However, New Zealand’s confidence and recent success mean India cannot afford a slow start.
✅ TBP Match Prediction: India to Win the 1st T20I
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