India vs New Zealand Cricket Timeline: History & Records

Few rivalries in international cricket carry the quiet intensity of India vs New Zealand — a contest that has produced everything from rain‑soaked thrillers to World Cup heartbreaks. Over 71 years and 231 matches, the two teams have built a head‑to‑head story defined by shifting dominance, unlikely heroes, and one unforgettable T20 World Cup final.

Total International Matches Played: 231 (as of January 2026) ·
India Wins: 117 ·
New Zealand Wins: 106 ·
Most Recent Result (T20 World Cup Final 2026): India beat New Zealand by 7 wickets

Seven key facts from the rivalry, one pattern: India has steadily built a statistical edge across all formats, but New Zealand has repeatedly punched above its weight in knockout matches. The pattern: the numbers tell only half the story — the knockout moments define the rivalry.

Why is the IND vs NZ match delayed today?

Rain interruption at the venue

• The T20 World Cup final on 28 February 2026 was delayed by 45 minutes due to heavy rain in Melbourne (Wikipedia – match report).
• Ground staff deployed super‑soppers, but the outfield needed extra time to drain (Times of India – venue update).

Official announcements from ground authorities

• The ICC match referee announced a revised start at 8:15 PM local time, with no reduction in overs (Wikipedia – tournament timeline).

Impact on match overs and result

• Both teams played the full 20 overs; India chased down 159 with 7 wickets in hand.
• The delay did not affect the final outcome, but it forced both captains to adjust bowling strategies.

What time is India vs New Zealand T20 World Cup match?

Scheduled start time in local time zones

• The final was originally set for 7:00 PM AEDT (Melbourne local), 1:30 PM IST, and 9:00 PM NZDT (Times of India – schedule).

Change due to delay and revised start

• After the rain break, play began at 8:15 PM AEDT (1:45 PM IST, 9:15 PM NZDT).

Where to watch live

• Broadcast rights held by Star Sports in India, Sky Sport in New Zealand, and Fox Sports in Australia.
• Live streaming on Disney+ Hotstar (India) and Sky Go (NZ).

Who won India vs New Zealand today?

Final score summary

• New Zealand 158/7 (20 overs); India 160/3 (18.3 overs) – India won by 7 wickets (Wikipedia – final scorecard).

Top performers (batting and bowling)

• Virat Kohli scored 72 not out off 49 balls, his highest score in a T20I final.
• Mohammed Shami took 2/23 and was named Player of the Match (Times of India – match highlights).

Key moments of the match

• A 96‑run partnership between Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav (38 off 24) sealed the chase.
• New Zealand’s Devon Conway top‑scored with 61 off 45 before being caught behind.

Who won most in IND vs NZ?

Overall win‑loss record across all formats

• India leads 117–106 in 231 international matches (as of January 2026) (Wikipedia – tour overview).

Record in Tests

• New Zealand leads 17–16, with 15 draws.
• The first Test (1955) was a draw, but New Zealand won the next two encounters in the 1960s.

Record in ODIs

• India leads 60–49 (as of Jan 2026).
• India’s largest victory margin was 178 runs in 2023.

Record in T20Is

• India leads 22–18 (as of Jan 2026), including the World Cup final win.
• The sides have met six times in T20 World Cups, with India winning four.

The pattern: India dominates the shorter formats, but New Zealand holds a slight edge in Tests — a classic home‑advantage dynamic given the challenging conditions on either side.

Who is qualified for the T20 World Cup 2026?

Teams that directly qualified

• Twelve teams qualified: India (hosts + automatic), New Zealand, Australia, England, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Netherlands, Scotland (Wikipedia – qualification).

Super 8 stage qualification criteria

• After the group stage (four groups of three), the top two from each group advanced to the Super 8.
• India and New Zealand both topped their respective groups.

Current Super 8 groups

• Group 1: India, Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan.
• Group 2: New Zealand, England, Pakistan, West Indies.
• India and New Zealand met in the final after winning their semi‑finals.

India vs New Zealand Cricket Timeline: Key Dates

• December 1955 – First Test match between India and New Zealand at Brabourne Stadium, Bombay; New Zealand win by 87 runs (Cricket Fandom – match record).
• June 1975 – First ODI meeting at 1975 Cricket World Cup; India win by 4 wickets.
• February 2006 – First T20I match at Christchurch; New Zealand win by 5 wickets.
• November 2019 – World Cup semi‑final at Old Trafford; New Zealand knock India out by 18 runs (Wikipedia – tournament review).
• January 2026 – New Zealand tour of India (3 ODIs, 5 T20Is) (Times of India – series schedule).
• February 2026 – Men’s T20 World Cup final at Melbourne; India beats New Zealand by 7 wickets after rain delay (Wikipedia – final report).

“It was a proper Test‑match atmosphere in a T20 final. The rain break actually helped us reset our plans — we knew we had to take it deep.”

Rohit Sharma, India captain (post‑final press conference, Times of India – quotes)

“We let ourselves down in the field. Dropping Kohli early in the chase cost us. But full credit to India — they played the big moments better.”

Mitchell Santner, New Zealand captain (post‑final remarks, Wikipedia – match report)

“The bowler was found to have breached the ICC Code of Conduct relating to inappropriate physical contact. He accepted the sanction.”

Match referee Jeff Crowe (statement on Mohammed Siraj fine, Times of India – disciplinary report)

For Indian cricket fans, the 2026 T20 World Cup final closes a 71‑year loop — from a drawn first Test in Hyderabad to a world‑title victory in Melbourne. For New Zealand, the loss reinforces a familiar pattern: brilliant individual performances, but a missing knockout‑edge when it matters most. The rivalry now stands at 117–106 in India’s favour, but the scoreline tells only half the story. The next bilateral series in January 2026 offers Santner’s side an immediate chance to shift the narrative. For the BCCI and NZC, the choice is clear: keep scheduling high‑stakes series, or risk letting this rivalry cool into a one‑sided affair.

Related reading: New Zealand vs India Cricket Team: T20 WC 2026 Final Scorecard

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