India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline
The India national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team timeline spans from January 1956 to March 2026- 219 matches across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. India leads overall with 102 wins against New Zealand’s 79. In ICC knockout matches, New Zealand won 5 of 8 encounters before India reversed the pattern with three consecutive ICC wins from 2023 to 2026.
Fast Facts: IND vs NZ at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
| First Match | January 1956, Chennai (Test) |
| Latest Match | March 8, 2026- T20 WC Final, Ahmedabad |
| Total Matches | 219 (all formats) |
| India Overall Wins | 102 |
| NZ Overall Wins | 79 |
| Highest Score (IND) | Shubman Gill- 208, Hyderabad, 2023 |
| Most ODI Runs (IND) | Sachin Tendulkar- 1,759 |
| Most ODI Wickets | Javagal Srinath- 51 |
| Biggest T20I Win | India by 168 runs, Ahmedabad, 2023 |
| Highest ODI Partnership | 331– Tendulkar & Dravid, Hyderabad, 1999 |
Introduction: A Rivalry Defined by Two Separate Truths
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The India national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team timeline is one of international cricket’s most misread rivalries. Most fans see the overall head-to-head numbers- India leads 102–79- and conclude the story ends there. It does not. India dominates bilateral series, especially at home. New Zealand, for two decades, dominated every ICC knockout encounter between these two teams. That fault line- bilateral strength versus ICC pressure-match performance- is what makes this rivalry genuinely worth studying. From India’s first Test win in 1956 to the dramatic 2026 T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad, this is the complete record of 70 years of cricket between two nations that bring out the most tactically interesting cricket when they meet.
India vs New Zealand: Full Cricket Timeline (1956–2026)
The India national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team timeline begins in January 1956 and covers 219 international matches across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. The timeline below extracts every significant series, match.
1956–1979: India’s Early Test Dominance
| Year | Event | Result | Significance |
| 1955–56 | First Test series (India) | India won 2–0 | First bilateral Test meeting |
| 1967–68 | Test series in New Zealand | India won 3–1 | India’s first major away Test win vs NZ |
| 1975 | First ODI- World Cup (England) | NZ won | First limited-overs meeting between the nations |
India won every home Test series in this period. Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad’s 413-run first-wicket partnership at Chennai in 1956- still the highest partnership by any wicket in IND vs NZ Test cricket- announced India’s intent in that first series.
1980–2000: New Zealand Gain Overseas Advantage
| Year | Event | Result | Significance |
| 1988–89 | ODI series in India | NZ won 1–0 | NZ’s first bilateral ODI series win in India |
| 1999 | 2nd ODI, Hyderabad | India won by 170 runs | Tendulkar 186*, Dravid 153, 331-run partnership, India 376/2 |
| 2000 | ICC Knockout Trophy Final, Nairobi | NZ won | NZ’s first ICC title, India’s first ICC final defeat to NZ |
New Zealand developed genuine overseas capability during this era. Their 1988-89 series win in India– the first bilateral ODI series win by any visiting team in India at that time- was an early signal of what would become a consistent pattern. The 1999 Hyderabad ODI produced one of international cricket’s most statistically remarkable passages of play. Sachin Tendulkar (186 off 150 balls) and Rahul Dravid (153 off 153 balls) built a 331-run partnership- the highest partnership by any wicket in IND vs NZ ODI cricket. India posted 376/2.
2000–2022: India’s Bilateral Dominance- ICC Pain Continues
| Year | Event | Result | Significance |
| 2007 | T20 World Cup group | NZ won by 10 runs | Vettori 4/20, India’s first T20 WC loss to NZ |
| 2010 | 2nd ODI, Christchurch | NZ won by 200 runs | India dismissed for 88- lowest ODI total vs NZ |
| 2016 | T20 World Cup group, Nagpur | NZ won by 47 runs | Santner 4/11, NZ’s sharpest T20I performance vs India |
| 2019 | ODI World Cup Semi-final, Manchester | NZ won by 18 runs | India’s highest-profile ICC knockout exit in a decade |
| 2019–20 | T20I series in New Zealand | NZ won 5–0 | India’s worst-ever T20I series result in New Zealand |
| 2021 | WTC Final, Southampton | NZ won by 8 wkts | Kyle Jamieson 5 wkts, NZ’s first WTC title |
| Jan 2023 | 3rd ODI, Hyderabad | India won by 90 runs | Gill 208 (149 balls), India posted 385/9 |
| Jan 2023 | 3rd T20I, Ahmedabad | India won by 168 runs | India 234/4, NZ 66 all out, largest T20I margin between these teams |
India’s bilateral dominance during this period- they won the majority of home ODI and T20I series- created a widespread underestimation of New Zealand’s ICC capabilities. New Zealand did not fail under pressure. India did. Every ICC knockout between 2000 and 2021 went New Zealand’s way. Kyle Jamieson‘s 5-wicket haul in the 2021 WTC final is the clearest example of New Zealand’s big-match ability. A tall, disciplined seamer on a green Southampton pitch against a full-strength Indian batting lineup- Jamieson outperformed every expectation.
2023–2026: India’s ICC Recovery
| Year | Event | Result | Significance |
| Nov 2023 | ODI World Cup SF, Mumbai | India won by 70 runs | Shami 7/57, India’s first ICC knockout win vs NZ, ended 0-for-5 drought |
| Oct–Nov 2024 | Test series in India (3 Tests) | NZ won 3–0 | First team to sweep India in a home Test series in 36 years |
| Jan 2026 | ODI series in India (3 ODIs) | NZ won 2–1 | NZ’s second ODI series win in India, first since 1988-89 |
| Jan 2026 | T20I series in India (4 T20Is) | India won 3–1 | India dominant in T20Is at home across all four matches |
| Mar 2025 | Champions Trophy Final, Dubai | India won by 4 wkts | India’s first CT title since 2013 |
| Mar 8, 2026 | T20 World Cup Final, Ahmedabad | India won by 96 runs | India 255/5, NZ 159, India’s 3rd T20 WC title |
Mohammed Shami’s 7/57 at Wankhede in November 2023 is the single most important bowling performance in the modern phase of this rivalry. It ended a streak of five consecutive ICC knockout defeats for India against New Zealand and opened a new phase in the head-to-head. The 2024-25 Test sweep is equally significant in the other direction. New Zealand became the first visiting team to sweep a Test series in India in 36 years. Mitchell Santner’s left-arm spin- 13 wickets across the series– exploited a tactical gap in India’s right-hand dominated batting lineup that no visiting side had successfully targeted at that scale before.
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record (All Formats)
The India national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team timeline across all formats shows India leading in every single format, though the margins vary significantly by format and location.
Tests
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| Stat | Number |
| Matches played | 65 |
| India wins | 22 |
| New Zealand wins | 16 |
| Draws | 27 |
ODIs
| Stat | Number |
| Matches played | 123 |
| India wins | 63 |
| New Zealand wins | 52 |
| No Result / Tied | 8 |
T20 Internationals
| Stat | Number |
| Matches played | 31 |
| India wins | 19 |
| New Zealand wins | 11 |
| No Result | 1 |
Overall Combined
| Total Matches | India Wins | NZ Wins | Drawn/NR/Tied |
| 219 | 102 | 79 | 38 |
India’s 63-52 ODI lead across 123 matches is not dominance- it is a close contest that India edges consistently at home. New Zealand have won 33 ODIs in New Zealand against India, compared to India’s 18. The home side has won the majority of bilateral matches in every format throughout this rivalry’s history.
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head by Venue
Understanding the IND vs NZ bilateral record by location is essential context that most summary pages omit. The venue split explains why overall numbers alone misrepresent this rivalry.
ODI Record by Location
| Location | Played | India Wins | NZ Wins |
| In India | ~65 | 35+ | 14 |
| In New Zealand | ~45 | 18 | 33 |
| Neutral venues | ~13 | 9 | 3 |
Test Record by Location
| Location | Played | India Wins | NZ Wins | Draws |
| In India | 33 | 15 | 3 | 15 |
| In New Zealand | 32 | 4 | 12 | 16 |
The 2024-25 Test series broke the most reliable pattern in this rivalry. New Zealand winning 3-0 in India- on pitches that had historically favoured India’s spinners against any visiting side- was a genuine statistical anomaly. It appeared to influence India’s subsequent selection and tactical approach during later ICC campaigns.
India vs New Zealand in ICC Tournaments: Full Knockout Record
When discussing the india national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team timeline in ICC events, the record tells a completely different story from bilateral cricket. India and NZ have met 8 times in ICC knockout/final matches. New Zealand won 5 (2000, 2007, 2016, 2019, 2021). India won 3 (2023, 2025, 2026). India have won the last 3 consecutive ICC encounters against New Zealand.
| Year | Tournament | Stage | Venue | Winner | Margin |
| 2000 | ICC Knockout Trophy | Final | Nairobi | New Zealand | — |
| 2007 | T20 World Cup | Group | — | New Zealand | 10 runs |
| 2016 | T20 World Cup | Group | Nagpur | New Zealand | 47 runs |
| 2019 | ODI World Cup | Semi-final | Manchester | New Zealand | 18 runs |
| 2021 | World Test Championship | Final | Southampton | New Zealand | 8 wickets |
| 2023 | ODI World Cup | Semi-final | Mumbai | India | 70 runs |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy | Final | Dubai | India | 4 wickets |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup | Final | Ahmedabad | India | 96 runs |
ICC Knockout Summary
- Total ICC knockout/final matches: 8
- New Zealand won: 5 (2000–2021)
- India won: 3 (2023–2026)
- India’s consecutive ICC wins (current streak): 3
- India’s ICC wins vs NZ before 2023: 0
The 2026 T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad was the most comprehensive of India’s three recent ICC wins. India posted 255/5– their highest total in a T20 World Cup final- and dismissed New Zealand for 159. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel combined for 7 wickets between them.
Key Records and Stats
This section covers the verified records from the india national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team timeline across batting, bowling, partnerships, and team totals.
Highest and Lowest Team Totals
| Record | Score | Venue | Year |
| India highest (ODI) | 397/4 | Hyderabad | 2023 |
| NZ highest (ODI) | 349/9 | — | 1999 |
| India lowest (ODI) | 88 all out | Christchurch | 2010 |
| NZ lowest (ODI) | 79 all out | Visakhapatnam | 2016 |
| NZ lowest (T20I) | 66 all out | Ahmedabad | 2023 |
| India highest (Test) | 583/7d | Ahmedabad | 1999 |
| NZ highest (Test) | 680/8d | Wellington | 2014 |
| India lowest (Test) | 46 all out | Bengaluru | 2024 |
Highest Individual Scores
| Batter | Score | Balls | Format | Year |
| Shubman Gill (IND) | 208 | 149 | ODI | 2023 |
| Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 186* | 150 | ODI | 1999 |
| Tom Latham (NZ) | 145* | 104 | ODI | 2022 |
| Daryl Mitchell (NZ) | 137 | — | ODI | 2026 |
| Rahul Dravid (IND) | 153 | 153 | ODI | 1999 |
Highest Partnerships- ODIs
| Runs | Partners | Wicket | Venue | Year |
| 331 | Tendulkar & Dravid (IND) | 2nd | Hyderabad | 1999 |
| 230 | Kohli & Rohit (IND) | 2nd | Kanpur | 2017 |
| 221* | Williamson & Latham (NZ) | 4th | Auckland | 2022 |
| 219 | Daryl Mitchell & Glenn Phillips (NZ) | 4th | Indore | 2026 |
| 212 | Gill & Rohit (IND) | 1st | Indore | 2023 |
| 201* | Sehwag & Gambhir (IND) | 1st | Hamilton | 2009 |
Highest Partnership- Tests
413 runs– Pankaj Roy & Vinoo Mankad (India), 1st wicket, Chennai, 1956. This remains the highest partnership by any wicket in IND vs NZ Test cricket, set in the very first Test series between these nations.
Most ODI Runs (All-Time)
| Player | Team | Runs | Matches | Average |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 1,759 | 42 | 46.28 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 1,393 | 37 | 58.04 |
| Ross Taylor | New Zealand | 1,302 | 35 | 45.59 |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 1,124 | 33 | 41.63 |
| MS Dhoni | India | 977 | 30 | 42.47 |
Most ODI Wickets (All-Time)
| Player | Team | Wickets | Matches |
| Javagal Srinath | India | 51 | 30 |
| Anil Kumble | India | 39 | 30 |
| Tim Southee | New Zealand | 38 | 26 |
| Mohammed Shami | India | 37 | 16 |
| Kapil Dev | India | 33 | 32 |
Best Bowling Figures in an Innings (ODIs)
| Figures | Bowler | Team | Year |
| 6/19 | Shane Bond | New Zealand | 2005 |
| 7/57 | Mohammed Shami | India | 2023 (WC SF) |
| 5/18 | Amit Mishra | India | 2016 |
Notable Test Bowling Record
Ajaz Patel- 10/119, Wankhede, Mumbai, 2021. Patel became only the third bowler in Test history to take all ten wickets in a single innings, after Jim Laker (1956) and Anil Kumble (1999). His performance came in India, on a turning pitch, against a full-strength Indian batting lineup- making it the only one of the three instances to occur away from the bowler’s home conditions. Patel’s figures of 10/119 remain the best innings bowling figures by any New Zealand bowler in Test cricket. One of the most important parts of the india national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team timeline is what the raw numbers do not say.
India Dominate New Zealand Comprehensively
India’s 102–79 overall lead means they are clearly the superior side. India’s advantage is strongest in T20Is (19–11) and home ODIs. In Tests, the margin is just 22–16 across 65 matches. In New Zealand, NZ lead ODIs 33–18. The rivalry is genuinely competitive- India’s overall lead reflects home advantage more than genuine all-conditions superiority.
New Zealand Lack Match-Winners
New Zealand depends on systems rather than individual talent. Shane Bond’s 6/19 remains the best bowling figures in an innings in ODI cricket between these teams. Daryl Mitchell scored 137 in Indore in January 2026 to win New Zealand’s first ODI series in India in 37 years. Ajaz Patel took all 10 wickets in a Test innings on Indian soil. The individual performances are substantial- they simply occur less frequently.
The 2024-25 Test Sweep Was a Fluke
India’s 3-0 home Test defeat was a one-off caused by pitch problems. New Zealand prepared specifically for these conditions. Mitchell Santner’s left-arm spin was selected and developed as a precise tactical weapon against India’s right-hand dominated batting. The series appeared to influence India’s subsequent selection decisions going into the 2025 Champions Trophy and 2026 T20 World Cup cycles.
Last 10 IND vs NZ Results
| Date | Format | Venue | Winner | Margin |
| Mar 8, 2026 | T20 WC Final | Ahmedabad | India | 96 runs |
| Jan 31, 2026 | T20I (4th) | Thiruvananthapuram | India | 46 runs |
| Jan 28, 2026 | T20I (3rd) | Visakhapatnam | New Zealand | 50 runs |
| Jan 23, 2026 | T20I (2nd) | Raipur | India | 7 wickets |
| Jan 21, 2026 | T20I (1st) | Nagpur | India | 48 runs |
| Jan 18, 2026 | ODI (3rd) | Indore | New Zealand | 41 runs |
| Jan 14, 2026 | ODI (2nd) | Rajkot | New Zealand | 7 wickets |
| Jan 11, 2026 | ODI (1st) | Vadodara | India | 4 wickets |
| Mar 9, 2025 | CT Final | Dubai | India | 4 wickets |
| Oct–Nov 2024 | Test Series (3 Tests) | India | New Zealand | 3–0 sweep |
FAQs:
Q1: What is the complete head-to-head record in the india national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team timeline?
A1: India leads overall- 102 wins from 219 matches, with New Zealand winning 79 and 38 drawn, tied, or no-result. In Tests: India 22, NZ 16, Drawn 27. In ODIs: India 63, NZ 52. In T20Is: India 19, NZ 11.
Q2: Who won the T20 World Cup 2026 final between India and New Zealand?
A2: India won by 96 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on March 8, 2026. India posted 255/5 and dismissed New Zealand for 159. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel combined for 7 wickets. It was India’s third T20 World Cup title.
Q3: What is India’s ICC knockout record against New Zealand in the timeline?
A3: India won 3, New Zealand won 5, from 8 ICC knockout or final encounters. Before 2023, India had never beaten New Zealand in an ICC knockout- a record of 0 wins from 5 matches. India have since won three consecutive ICC matches against New Zealand (2023, 2025, 2026).
Q4: When did India and New Zealand first play a Test match?
A4: Their first Test was in January 1956 at Chennai. India won the series 2–0. The first match also produced Roy and Mankad’s 413-run opening partnership- still the highest by any wicket in IND vs NZ Test cricket.
Q5: What is the highest individual ODI score in IND vs NZ cricket history?
A5: Shubman Gill scored 208 off 149 balls at Hyderabad on January 18, 2023. India posted 385/9 and won by 90 runs. It is the highest score by any Indian batter against New Zealand in ODIs and the highest team total by India against NZ (397/4 in the same match).
Q6: Has New Zealand ever won a bilateral ODI series in India?
A6: Yes- twice. First in 1988-89 (won 1–0). Then in January 2026 (won 2–1). Daryl Mitchell was Player of the Series in 2026, scoring 137 at Indore as part of a 219-run partnership with Glenn Phillips to secure the deciding match.
Q7: What is the highest partnership in IND vs NZ ODI history?
A7: Sachin Tendulkar (186 off 150 balls) and Rahul Dravid (153 off 153 balls) built a 331-run second-wicket partnership at Hyderabad in 1999. India won the match by 170 runs. This remains the highest partnership for any wicket between these two teams in ODI cricket.
Q8: Who has taken the most wickets in IND vs NZ ODI cricket?
A8: Javagal Srinath leads with 51 wickets from 30 matches. Anil Kumble has 39. For New Zealand, Tim Southee leads with 38 wickets from 26 matches. The best bowling figures in an innings remain Shane Bond’s 6/19 in 2005.
Q9: What was the result of the 2024-25 Test series in India?
A9: New Zealand won 3–0– the first team to sweep a Test series in India in 36 years. India’s lowest score in the series was 46 all out at Bengaluru, their lowest Test total against New Zealand. Mitchell Santner’s left-arm spin was central to all three New Zealand victories.
Q10: What is India’s biggest T20I win over New Zealand?
A10: India beat New Zealand by 168 runs at Ahmedabad in January 2023. India scored 234/4 and dismissed New Zealand for 66 all out. It is the largest winning margin between these two teams in any T20I match and New Zealand’s lowest T20I total against India.
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