Auckland, June 3: India will tour New Zealand for a marathon all-format series from October 22 to December 1 this year, featuring an unprecedented 10 white-ball games in what would be the biggest men’s bilateral cricket series ever held in this country.
India will take on the Black Caps in five T20Is, as many ODIs and two Tests across five major centres. The 12 matches would be the highest ever featuring a touring side in New Zealand’s history.
The series would be a major landmark as the two countries celebrate 100 years of sporting ties.
The 40-day tour will begin with the opening T20I in Christchurch on October 22.
The T20I series will be followed by the ODI leg, which will start at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4.
The Test series will commence at the Cello Basin Reserve in Wellington from November 19 to 23, while the second and final Test will be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.
“When it comes to cricket, it simply doesn’t get bigger than India and we’re determined to deliver New Zealanders a tour like no other,” NZC Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Glenn Critchley said.
“This will be about more than just the cricket on the field – it will be a celebration of New Zealand’s shared history and culture with India, and our burgeoning rivalry and friendship through cricket.
“The passion and the following this team has is staggering – not to mention some of the players expected to tour such as Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah – so we’re bracing for the intensity and fandom that will accompany the tour,” he added.
The series will mark India’s first Test tour of New Zealand since the 2019-20 season.
Since then, New Zealand have visited India twice, including their historic 2024-25 tour when they completed a 3-0 sweep in the Test series. (PTI)
