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The cricket rivalry between India and New Zealand has developed across cricket, One Day Internationals, T20Is and major ICC tournaments. Their international journey began in the 1950s, when New Zealand toured India for its first Test series against the hosts. The first Test was played at Hyderabad in November 1955 and ended in a draw, while India went on to win two matches in that five-Test series.
Over the decades, the rivalry has produced several memorable contests. New Zealand had early success in World Cup cricket, winning the first two World Cup meetings in 1975 and 1979. India responded with victories over New Zealand in the 1987 World Cup and later recorded important wins in the 2003 World Cup.
The modern era has added another dimension to the contest. New Zealand defeated India in the 2019 World Cup semifinal and the 2021 World Test Championship final. India later won the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand and also defeated them in the 2026 T20 World Cup final. The 2026 final in Ahmedabad ended with India winning by 96 runs after scoring 255 for five.
The following timeline covers the major stages, tournaments, series and landmark matches that have shaped this international cricket rivalry.
1955 to 1965: The Beginning of the Test Rivalry
The first Test between India and New Zealand was played at Fateh Maidan in Hyderabad from November 19 to 24, 1955. India declared at 498 for four, with Polly Umrigar scoring 223 and Vijay Manjrekar making 118. New Zealand reached 326 in its first innings and 212 for two after being asked to follow on, resulting in a draw.
The remainder of the 1955 series established India’s early advantage. India won the second Test in Bombay by an innings and 27 runs and the fifth Test in Madras by an innings and 109 runs. The other three matches were drawn, giving India a 2–0 series victory.
Their next major Test series in India came in 1964–65. India won the fourth Test in Delhi by seven wickets, while the first three matches were drawn. The results demonstrated how closely contested many of the early meetings were, particularly on Indian pitches.
| Year | Format | Major event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Test | First Test at Hyderabad | Draw |
| 1955–56 | Test | First five-Test series | India won 2–0 |
| 1964–65 | Test | Four-Test series in India | India won 1–0 |
| 1967–68 | Test | India toured New Zealand | India won series 3–1 |
1975 to 1992: World Cup Encounters Begin
The rivalry entered a new phase with the introduction of the Cricket World Cup. India and New Zealand met at the inaugural World Cup in 1975 at Manchester. New Zealand won by four wickets after Glenn Turner scored an unbeaten 114 while chasing India’s 230.
Four years later, the teams met again at Headingley during the 1979 World Cup. New Zealand won by eight wickets after restricting India to 182. Bruce Edgar scored an unbeaten 84 and John Wright contributed 48 as New Zealand reached the target comfortably.
India finally recorded its first World Cup victory over New Zealand in the 1987 tournament. At Bengaluru, Kapil Dev’s unbeaten 72 helped India reach 252 for seven before New Zealand fell 16 runs short. The teams met again in Nagpur later in the tournament, where India won by nine wickets.
The 1992 World Cup returned the advantage to New Zealand. At Dunedin, India scored 230 for six with Sachin Tendulkar making 84, but Mark Greatbatch and Andrew Jones helped New Zealand chase the target with four wickets remaining.
| Year | Tournament | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | World Cup | Manchester | New Zealand won by 4 wickets |
| 1979 | World Cup | Leeds | New Zealand won by 8 wickets |
| 1987 | World Cup | Bengaluru | India won by 16 runs |
| 1987 | World Cup | Nagpur | India won by 9 wickets |
| 1992 | World Cup | Dunedin | New Zealand won by 4 wickets |
1999 to 2012: A Competitive Modern Rivalry
The 1999 World Cup meeting at Nottingham again went New Zealand’s way. India scored 251 for six, but New Zealand reached the target with five wickets remaining. Matt Horne scored 74 while Roger Twose remained unbeaten on 60.
India responded strongly at the 2003 World Cup. Zaheer Khan took four wickets as New Zealand were dismissed for 146 at Centurion. India chased the target successfully, with Mohammad Kaif scoring an unbeaten 68 and Rahul Dravid remaining unbeaten on 53.
In Test cricket, India achieved an important milestone during the 2009–10 tour of New Zealand. India won the first Test at Hamilton by 10 wickets and secured the series 1–0 after the final Test ended in a rain-affected draw. It was India’s first Test series victory in New Zealand in 41 years.
India also won the first Test of the 2012 home series by 10 wickets at Hyderabad. Sachin Tendulkar scored 160, while Harbhajan Singh took six wickets in the second innings and finished with seven wickets in the match.
2019 to 2021: New Zealand’s Major Tournament Successes
The 2019 World Cup semifinal became one of the most significant matches in the rivalry. New Zealand scored 239 for eight at Manchester before rain interrupted the contest. The match was completed on the reserve day, and India were bowled out for 221. New Zealand won by 18 runs and progressed to the final.
The teams met again in the 2021 World Test Championship final at Southampton. New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets to become the inaugural World Test Championship winners. Kyle Jamieson and the New Zealand bowling attack played important roles, while Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor completed the chase in the final innings.
The T20 World Cup also produced a sequence of important New Zealand victories. At the 2007 T20 World Cup, New Zealand defeated India by 10 runs. In the 2016 edition, New Zealand defended 126 at Nagpur and won by 47 runs. At the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai, New Zealand won by eight wickets after restricting India to 110 for seven.
These matches established New Zealand as a particularly difficult opponent for India in major global tournaments during this period.
2023 to 2024: Important World Cup and Test Milestones
The 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal in Mumbai was another major meeting between the teams. India won by 70 runs after scoring 397 for four. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer scored centuries, while Mohammed Shami took seven wickets as New Zealand were dismissed for 327.
The 2024 Test series in India produced an unexpected chapter in the rivalry. New Zealand won the first Test in Bengaluru by eight wickets and followed it with a 113-run victory in Pune. Mitchell Santner took 13 wickets in the second Test. New Zealand’s victory in Pune secured its first Test series win in India.
New Zealand completed the series 3–0 in Mumbai. The final Test ended with a 25-run victory for the visitors, giving New Zealand its first three-Test series whitewash of India in India. The result was also India’s first home Test series whitewash in a series of three or more matches.
| Year | Competition | Key result |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | World Cup semifinal | New Zealand won by 18 runs |
| 2021 | World Test Championship final | New Zealand won by 8 wickets |
| 2023 | ODI World Cup semifinal | India won by 70 runs |
| 2024 | Test series in India | New Zealand won 3–0 |
2025: Champions Trophy Final
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy gave India and New Zealand another major knockout meeting. The teams had already played in the group stage, but the most important contest came in the final in Dubai.
New Zealand batted first and made 251 for seven. Daryl Mitchell scored 63 while Michael Bracewell remained unbeaten on 53. India successfully chased the target, finishing on 254 for six with an over remaining.
Rohit Sharma scored 76 at the top of the order, while Shreyas Iyer made 48. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja completed the chase, giving India a four-wicket victory and the Champions Trophy title. India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
The final was particularly significant because it represented another major tournament meeting following their World Cup and World Test Championship contests.
2026: T20 World Cup Final and the Next Chapter
The 2026 T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad became another landmark match. New Zealand won the toss and chose to field, but India’s batting lineup produced 255 for five in 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma scored a rapid half-century, while the innings received contributions throughout the order.
New Zealand were dismissed for 159 in 19 overs. Tim Seifert made 52 from 26 balls, but India’s bowling attack controlled the chase. Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets for 15 runs, while Axar Patel claimed three for 27. India therefore won the final by 96 runs.
The victory gave India its third Men’s T20 World Cup title and made India the first team to defend the Men’s T20 World Cup championship. The match also marked another major final between the two sides after the 2021 World Test Championship final and the 2025 Champions Trophy final.
As of September 2026, the rivalry is scheduled to continue with India’s tour of New Zealand. The announced programme includes five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests in October and November 2026. New Zealand’s squad announcement noted that the T20I series is part of a larger home programme against the reigning T20 World champions.
| Year | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Champions Trophy final | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup final | India won by 96 runs |
| 2026 | New Zealand home tour | Five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests scheduled |
Conclusion
The history of India National Cricket Team Vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline covers more than seven decades and includes Tests, ODIs, T20Is and major ICC tournaments. The rivalry began with the 1955 Test series and expanded through memorable World Cup encounters, the 2019 semifinal, the 2021 World Test Championship final, the 2024 Test series in India, the 2025 Champions Trophy final and the 2026 T20 World Cup final. New Zealand created history with its 3–0 Test series win in India in 2024, while India responded by winning major limited-overs finals in 2025 and 2026. With another multi-format tour scheduled for late 2026, the rivalry continues to add new chapters to its long international history.
FAQs
1. When did India and New Zealand first play a Test match?
India and New Zealand first played a Test match from November 19 to 24, 1955, at Fateh Maidan in Hyderabad. The match ended in a draw.
2. When did India and New Zealand first meet in a World Cup?
The first World Cup meeting took place at the 1975 Cricket World Cup in Manchester. New Zealand won the match by four wickets.
3. When did India first win a World Cup match against New Zealand?
India recorded its first World Cup victory over New Zealand during the 1987 tournament in Bengaluru, winning by 16 runs. India also defeated New Zealand by nine wickets in Nagpur later in the same tournament.
4. What happened in the 2024 Test series between India and New Zealand?
New Zealand won the three-Test series 3–0. It was New Zealand’s first Test series victory in India and India’s first home series whitewash in a series of three or more Tests.
5. Who won the 2026 T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand?
India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at Ahmedabad. India scored 255 for five, while New Zealand were dismissed for 159. Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets for 15 runs and was named Player of the Match.
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