India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline

The rivalry between the India National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team has grown steadily over the decades. While it may not be as old as some other rivalries, matches between these two teams have produced many memorable moments in international cricket. From early Test series to high-pressure encounters in ICC tournaments, India and New Zealand have faced each other in all formats of the game. Both teams are known for their disciplined bowling attacks and reliable batting lineups. Over time, their contests have become highly competitive, often producing thrilling finishes and unforgettable performances for cricket fans around the world.

Recent: India vs New Zealand Cricket Team

Tournament	Venue	Date	Toss	India Score	New Zealand Score	Result	Series	Player of the Match
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup	Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad	Mar 8, 2026	New Zealand (field)	255/5 (20 overs)	159 (19 overs)	India won by 96 runs	T20 World Cup	Jasprit Bumrah
Bilateral T20I	Thiruvananthapuram	Jan 31, 2026	India (bat)	Not fully detailed	Not fully detailed	India won by 46 runs	Bilateral T20I	Abhishek Sharma
Bilateral T20I	Nava Raipur	Jan 23, 2026	New Zealand (bat)	209/3 (15.2 overs)	208/6 (20 overs)	India won by 7 wickets	Bilateral T20I	Ishan Kishan
Bilateral T20I	Nagpur	Jan 21, 2026	India (bat)	238/7 (20 overs)	190/7 (20 overs)	India won by 48 runs	Bilateral T20I	Abhishek Sharma
Bilateral ODI	Indore	Jan 18, 2026	New Zealand (bat)	296 (46 overs)	337/8 (50 overs)	New Zealand won by 41 runs	Bilateral ODI	Daryl Mitchell
Bilateral ODI	Rajkot	Jan 14, 2026	India (bat)	284/7 (50 overs)	286/3 (47.3 overs)	New Zealand won by 7 wickets	Bilateral ODI	Not specified
Bilateral ODI	Vadodara	Jan 11, 2026	New Zealand (bat)	306/6 (49 overs)	300/8 (50 overs)	India won by 4 wickets	Bilateral ODI	Virat Kohli
Bilateral T20I	Indore (3rd T20I)	Jan 25, 2026	New Zealand (bat)	155/2 (10 overs)	153/9 (20 overs)	India won by 8 wickets	Bilateral T20I	Abhishek Sharma

Memorable Matches Timeline

Year	Format	Venue / Tournament	Key Details & Scoreline	Result & Margin	Memorable Highlight / Player of the Match Impact
1975	ODI	Manchester, Prudential World Cup	India 230, New Zealand chased in 58.5 overs	New Zealand won by 4 wickets	Glenn Turner’s unbeaten 114* in the inaugural World Cup clash set the tone for rivalry.
1987	ODI	World Cup	Chetan Sharma’s hat-trick dismantled NZ batting	India won	First-ever World Cup hat-trick by Chetan Sharma turned the game dramatically.
2000	ODI	Nairobi, ICC KnockOut Final	New Zealand defended after Chris Cairns’ century	New Zealand won	Chris Cairns’ explosive hundred powered NZ to their first ICC title, breaking Indian hearts in the final.
2009	Test	Napier	India followed on, Gautam Gambhir 137* in 2nd innings	Draw	Gambhir’s heroic resistance saved India from certain defeat after follow-on.
2019	ODI	Manchester, World Cup Semi-Final	India 221 all out chasing 240	New Zealand won by 18 runs	Tense low-scoring thriller; Martin Guptill’s run-out of MS Dhoni sealed NZ’s path to the final.
2021	Test	Southampton, WTC Final	NZ chased 139 after Ajaz Patel’s 10 wickets	New Zealand won by 8 wickets	Ajaz Patel’s historic 10/119 haul; first WTC title for NZ in a gripping low chase.
2021	Test	Mumbai	India 325 & 276, NZ bowled out twice	India won by 372 runs	India’s massive win; NZ spinner Ajaz Patel’s 10-wicket haul in one innings remains legendary.
2023	ODI	World Cup Semi-Final	India 397/4, New Zealand 327	India won by 70 runs	Mohammed Shami’s 7/57 wrecked NZ; dominant batting display avenged 2019 semi-final heartbreak.
2024	Test	Bengaluru	New Zealand chased in historic fashion	New Zealand won by 8 wickets	NZ’s first Test win in India after 36 years, ending long drought on subcontinent.
2026	T20I	Ahmedabad, T20 World Cup Final	India 255/5, New Zealand 159 all out	India won by 96 runs	Jasprit Bumrah’s masterclass bowling; India retained title with record third T20WC triumph in dominant style.

Head-to-Head Record

Format	Matches Played	India Won	New Zealand Won	Drawn / Tied / No Result	India Win % (excluding NR/Draws where applicable)
Test	65	22	16	27 (Drawn)	58%
ODI	123	63	52	8 (NR)	55%
T20I	31	17–19	11	3 (Tied/NR)	60–63%
Overall (Intl.)	219	102	79	38 (Draws/Ties/NR)	56%

Top Performers in IND vs NZ Matches

Rank	Player	Team	Role	Key Stats (vs Opponent)	Notable Achievements / Impact
1	Sachin Tendulkar	IND	Batsman	1,750 runs in ODIs (highest overall in rivalry)	Legendary accumulator; set the benchmark in ODIs with consistency across eras.
2	Virat Kohli	IND	Batsman	~1,657+ runs in ODIs (close to surpassing Tendulkar); strong in Tests/ODIs	Clutch performer in chases and big games; multiple centuries and high averages vs NZ.
3	Suryakumar Yadav	IND	Batsman	526 runs in T20Is (highest in format)	Explosive middle-order force; record contributions in recent T20I series and 2026 WC final.
4	Rohit Sharma	IND	Batsman	511 runs in T20Is; strong across formats	Aggressive opener; key in powerplays and big totals, including recent bilateral dominance.
5	Javagal Srinath	IND	Bowler	51 wickets in ODIs (highest in rivalry)	Pace pioneer; troubled NZ batters with swing and bounce in the 90s/2000s.
6	Ravichandran Ashwin	IND	Bowler	67 wickets in Tests (top in format)	Spin maestro; dominant home performer with economical spells and big hauls.
7	Daryl Mitchell	NZ	All-rounder	High runs in recent series (e.g., 352 in 2026 ODIs); consistent contributor	Modern standout; match-winning knocks and handy overs in white-ball games.
8	Jasprit Bumrah	IND	Bowler	Leading T20I wickets; 4/15 in 2026 T20WC Final	Death-over specialist; pivotal in India’s 2026 T20WC triumph with economical, lethal spells.
9	Kane Williamson	NZ	Batsman	419 runs in T20Is; strong in Tests/ODIs	Elegant anchor; key in NZ’s competitive showings, especially in ICC knockouts.
10	Mitchell Santner	NZ	Bowler	Top T20I wickets vs IND; consistent all-round impact	Economical spinner; troubled Indian middle order in multiple series and tournaments.

First Encounters and Early Test Matches (1955–1975)

The first official Test series between the India National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team took place in 1955 when New Zealand toured India. These early matches were important because they marked the beginning of a long cricketing relationship between the two nations. At that time, international tours were lengthy and challenging, requiring teams to play multiple Test matches across different venues. India had strong spin bowlers who often performed well on home pitches, while New Zealand relied on disciplined batting and steady bowling. The matches were competitive and helped both teams gain valuable international experience. These early encounters laid the foundation for a rivalry that would grow stronger in the coming decades.

Year	Series / Event	Format	Venue	Result
1955	New Zealand tour of India	Test	India	First series played
1965	India tour of New Zealand	Test	New Zealand	Competitive matches
1969	Bilateral series	Test	India	Close contests
1975	Early ODI meetings	ODI	England	Tournament clash

Expanding Rivalry in the Late 20th Century (1976–1999)

During the late twentieth century, the rivalry between the India National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team expanded as limited-overs cricket gained popularity. The introduction of One Day Internationals allowed the teams to meet more frequently in international tournaments. India began producing legendary batsmen who could dominate matches, while New Zealand became known for its disciplined team approach and strong fielding. These encounters were often closely fought, especially during ICC events. One of the notable matches between the two sides occurred during the 1999 Cricket World Cup, where both teams competed strongly for a place in the later stages of the tournament. By the end of the 1990s, India vs New Zealand had become a respected rivalry in international cricket.

Year	Event	Format	Venue	Highlight
1981	Bilateral series	Test	New Zealand	Competitive contests
1987	ICC Cricket World Cup	ODI	India	Tournament clash
1994	ODI series	ODI	New Zealand	Close matches
1999	World Cup encounter	ODI	England	High-pressure game

Competitive Era with Legendary Players (2000–2010)

The rivalry between the India National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team became even more exciting in the early 2000s. During this time, both teams featured world-class players who delivered outstanding performances. Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar played several memorable innings against New Zealand, showcasing his exceptional batting ability. Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was known for his calm leadership and strategic approach to the game. Matches between the two teams were often competitive, with both sides winning important series at home. These contests strengthened the rivalry and kept cricket fans engaged with exciting and unpredictable matches.

Year	Event	Format	Venue	Highlight
2002	India tour of NZ	Test / ODI	New Zealand	Tough conditions
2003	ICC Cricket World Cup	ODI	South Africa	Tournament clash
2008	Bilateral series	ODI / Test	India	Competitive series
2009	India tour of NZ	Test	New Zealand	India series victory

Modern Era Battles and ICC Tournament Clashes (2011–2020)

During the 2010s, the rivalry between the India National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team became even more intense, especially in ICC tournaments. Both teams were among the strongest sides in international cricket and regularly competed for major trophies. New Zealand produced world-class players such as Kane Williamson, whose leadership and batting skills helped the team achieve remarkable success. India, led by star players including Virat Kohli, also delivered several impressive performances. One of the most memorable encounters came during the 2019 Cricket World Cup, where New Zealand defeated India in a dramatic semifinal match. Such high-stakes games added new intensity to the rivalry.

Year	Event	Format	Venue	Highlight
2014	Bilateral ODI series	ODI	New Zealand	High scoring games
2016	ICC World T20	T20	India	Major tournament clash
2019	World Cup semifinal	ODI	England	New Zealand victory
2020	T20 series	T20	New Zealand	Competitive matches

Recent Timeline and Ongoing Rivalry (2021–2025)

In recent years, matches between the India National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team have remained highly competitive. Both teams continue to produce talented players capable of influencing the outcome of matches. Their encounters in bilateral series and ICC tournaments attract global attention because they often feature disciplined bowling and strategic batting. Test matches between the teams are particularly interesting because both sides have strong bowling attacks that can challenge even the best batsmen. The ongoing timeline shows that this rivalry continues to grow as both teams remain among the top competitors in world cricket.

Year	Event	Format	Venue	Highlight
2021	ICC World Test Championship Final	Test	England	Historic match
2022	Bilateral series	ODI / T20	New Zealand	Close contests
2023	ICC tournaments	ODI	Global venues	Competitive games
2024	Bilateral matches	Test / T20	Multiple venues	Continued rivalry
2025	Recent encounters	All formats	Various	Ongoing competition

Conclusion

The rivalry between the India National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team has evolved over many decades of international cricket. From the first Test series in the 1950s to dramatic ICC tournament matches in recent years, the two teams have produced numerous memorable moments. Their contests often showcase disciplined bowling, strategic batting, and competitive spirit. As both teams continue to develop talented players and compete in major tournaments, the India vs New Zealand rivalry is expected to remain an important and exciting part of international cricket for many years to come.