Match Overview: India Tour of New Zealand 2026
India takes on New Zealand in the third match of their five-match T20I series at Hnry Stadium in Wellington. Having secured hard-fought four-wicket victories in both opening encounters at Christchurch, the Men in Blue enter this clash with a commanding 2-0 series cushion.
A win in Wellington will seal the bilateral trophy for India, while Mitchell Santner’s New Zealand side faces a must-win scenario on home turf to keep the series alive.
Toss Result and Match Details
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field first. Looking to exploit early moisture and favorable seam conditions in Wellington, India backed their chasing strengths, asking New Zealand to set the target.
| Detail | Information |
| Match | India vs New Zealand, 3rd T20I |
| Date | Tuesday, October 27, 2026 |
| Venue | Hnry Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Toss Time | 12:00 PM IST |
| Match Start Time | 12:30 PM IST (8:00 PM Local NZDT) |
| Toss Result | India won the toss and opted to bowl first |
| Series Context | Game 3 of 5; India leads 2-0 |
Playing XIs
India Playing XI
India has retained an unchanged combination, prioritizing the tactical balance that secured their opening two wins.
- Sanju Samson (WK)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Shreyas Iyer (C)
- Tilak Varma
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Naman Dhir
- Axar Patel
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prince Yadav
New Zealand Playing XI
The Black Caps made key structural adjustments to their bowling attack, bringing in pace reinforcements to test India’s top order.
- Tim Seifert (WK)
- Finn Allen
- Daryl Mitchell
- Glenn Phillips
- Bevon Jacobs
- Michael Bracewell
- Mitchell Santner (C)
- Kyle Jamieson
- Adam Milne
- Jacob Duffy
- Matthew Fisher
Complete Squads
- India: Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Kumar Kushagra (backup cover for the injured Ishan Kishan).
- New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (C), Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (WK), Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Kyle Jamieson, Blair Tickner, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Josh Clarkson, Matthew Fisher, Bevon Jacobs.
Broadcast and Live Streaming Guide
Cricket fans across India can follow the live action across television and digital streaming platforms:
- Live Television Broadcast: Sony Sports Network (Sony Ten channels with regional language feeds).
- Live Digital Streaming: SonyLIV app and official website (subscription required).
- Match Timing: Live coverage commenced at 12:00 PM IST ahead of the 12:30 PM IST first ball.