Auckland: India’s marathon tour of New Zealand is locked in – five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests spread across seven weeks, plus a parallel India A programme that underlines just how seriously the visitors are taking this trip.
Here is the complete schedule, venue by venue.
T20I series: October 22 – November 1
The tour opens with five T20Is in eleven days. Christchurch hosts the first two matches, before the caravan moves to Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton. The quick turnaround between games will test squad depth – expect heavy rotation as the team management juggles workloads.
With the next T20 World Cup cycle underway, these matches double as auditions. The New Zealand leg of the T20I calendar has already produced one fairytale – Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s recall – and others will fancy their chances of forcing their way in.
ODI series: November 4 – 15
The focus then shifts to the 50-over format, with five ODIs across Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton and a double-header at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval. The series is doubly significant: it marks the long-awaited ODI return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, whose next appearance in blue has been the most asked-about question in Indian cricket.
New Zealand’s white-ball conditions – swing up front, true bounce, short square boundaries – will examine India’s middle-order plans and death-bowling options ahead of the next World Cup cycle.
Test series: November 19 – December 1
The tour crescendos with two Tests: the first in Wellington from November 19 to 23, the second in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1. After the heartbreaks of previous tours, India will arrive determined to correct a poor record in New Zealand conditions.
Seam, swing and the Basin Reserve breeze – this is the examination that has humbled great Indian sides. Selection for these two Tests, including the wicketkeeper’s slot, is already the hottest debate back home.
India A shadow tour
Running alongside is a full India A programme of three multi-day games: October 24-27 in Lincoln, October 31-November 3 in Christchurch, and November 7-10 back in Lincoln. It is a clear pipeline strategy – the next generation acclimatising in the same conditions, ready to step up if form or fitness demands.
Seven weeks, twelve internationals, three A games. By December 1, we’ll know exactly where this Indian side stands.
Read also: Rohit, Kohli’s wait for next ODI | Ishan Kishan’s Test contention | Karthik hails Bhuvi recall
