The rivalry between the New Zealand national cricket team and India national cricket team has developed over more than seven decades. Their first Test series came in 1955, while their ODI meetings began in the 1970s and their T20I rivalry started in 2007.
India have the better overall record in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, but that simple statistic does not fully explain the story. New Zealand have repeatedly produced some of their biggest performances against India on major ICC occasions, including the inaugural World Test Championship final and the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final.
More recently, the balance has shifted again. New Zealand completed a historic 3-0 Test series win in India in 2024 and then won their first-ever ODI series in India in January 2026. India, however, answered with a 4-1 T20I series victory and then defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup final.
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record
As of October 2026, the completed head-to-head record stands as follows:
| Format | Matches | India Wins | New Zealand Wins | Draw/Tie/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 65 | 22 | 16 | 27 draws |
| ODIs | 123 | 63 | 52 | 1 tie, 7 no results |
| T20Is | 31 | 19 | 11 | 1 tie |
| Total | 219 | 104 | 79 | 38 |
The two teams are not scheduled to meet again before India’s 2026 tour of New Zealand, which begins in October. That tour is scheduled to contain five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests.
The Test numbers are particularly interesting because 27 of the 65 matches have ended in draws. India lead 22-16 in wins.
India vs New Zealand Timeline
1955: The Test Rivalry Begins
India and New Zealand first met in Test cricket in 1955, when New Zealand toured India.
At the time, New Zealand were still relatively new to Test cricket, having received Test status in 1926. The early contests were dominated by India, particularly at home.
Over the decades, the fixture developed into a regular bilateral contest, with both sides experiencing periods of dominance.
The long Test history also explains why the overall rivalry contains such a large number of drawn matches.
1975: India and New Zealand Meet in the First ODI World Cup
The teams’ ODI rivalry began in the inaugural Men’s Cricket World Cup in 1975.
New Zealand won that encounter by four wickets at Old Trafford, Manchester.
It was the beginning of an ODI relationship that would eventually produce more than 120 matches and some of the most memorable World Cup games involving India.
1987: India’s First World Cup Win Over New Zealand
India got their World Cup revenge during the 1987 tournament.
Playing in Bengaluru, India scored 252/7 and dismissed New Zealand for 236, winning by 16 runs.
The match was notable for Sunil Gavaskar’s century, while India ultimately progressed to the semi-finals of the tournament.
1999: A Huge Indian Total
One of the most significant batting performances in the Test rivalry came in Ahmedabad in 1999.
India posted 583/7 declared against New Zealand, with Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar both scoring double centuries.
The match ended in a draw, but India’s enormous first-innings score remains one of the defining batting performances in this fixture.
2000: New Zealand Win the Champions Trophy Final
New Zealand produced one of their most important victories over India in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy final in Nairobi.
India made 264/6 after being sent in, with Sourav Ganguly scoring a century.
New Zealand chased the target, reaching 265/6, with Chris Cairns’ unbeaten 102 proving decisive.
The four-wicket victory gave New Zealand their first major ICC title.
The result also became an important part of the broader India-New Zealand rivalry in ICC tournaments.
2007: The T20I Rivalry Begins
India and New Zealand first met in men’s T20I cricket in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 in Johannesburg.
New Zealand won by 10 runs.
That result established an unusual trend in the early years of their T20 World Cup rivalry: New Zealand repeatedly found a way to beat India in the global tournament.
2019: New Zealand Win the World Cup Semi-Final
The 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final at Old Trafford remains one of the most remembered India-New Zealand matches.
Rain interrupted the match after New Zealand reached 211/5 from 46.1 overs. The game resumed the following day.
New Zealand eventually made 239/8.
India’s chase collapsed dramatically. The top order was reduced to 24/4, and although Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni attempted a recovery, India were eventually bowled out for 221.
New Zealand won by 18 runs and advanced to the World Cup final.
It was another major ICC knockout victory for the Black Caps.
2020: India’s T20I Whitewash in New Zealand
India produced one of their strongest T20I series performances against New Zealand in 2020.
The five-match series was played in New Zealand, and India won 5-0.
Two matches required Super Overs, making the series particularly unusual.
The fourth T20I ended tied before India won the Super Over, while the fifth followed the same pattern. India therefore became the first team to complete a 5-0 T20I series sweep against New Zealand.
2021: The World Test Championship Final
The first ICC World Test Championship final brought the two sides together at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
After rain disrupted the match, New Zealand eventually chased down 139 to defeat India by eight wickets.
India had made 217 and 170 in their two innings, while New Zealand replied with 249 and 140/2.
Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor guided New Zealand through the chase.
The victory made New Zealand the first World Test Championship winners.
Later in the year, India hosted New Zealand for two Tests.
The first match in Kanpur was drawn, while India won the Mumbai Test by 372 runs.
That victory remains India’s biggest Test win by runs against New Zealand.
2023: India End the World Cup Knockout Hoodoo
The 2023 ODI World Cup produced a different ending.
India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the league stage at Dharamsala, then faced them again in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium.
India produced a remarkable 397/4, their highest ODI total against New Zealand.
Virat Kohli scored his 50th ODI century, while Shreyas Iyer also made a hundred. New Zealand fought back through Daryl Mitchell’s century, but India’s total proved too large.
India won by 70 runs and reached the World Cup final.
2023 World Cup Semi-Final Scorecard
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| India | 397/4 |
| New Zealand | 327 all out |
| Result | India won by 70 runs |
Mohammed Shami produced one of the great World Cup bowling performances, taking 7/57.
2024: New Zealand Make History in India
The 2024 Test series was one of the biggest turning points in the modern rivalry.
New Zealand arrived in India for three Tests and achieved something no previous New Zealand side had managed: a 3-0 Test series sweep in India.
1st Test — Bengaluru
New Zealand won by eight wickets.
India were bowled out for only 46 in their first innings, their lowest Test total against New Zealand.
The visitors took control and eventually completed the chase comfortably.
2nd Test — Pune
New Zealand won by 113 runs.
Mitchell Santner was the central figure, producing a match-winning bowling performance on a turning pitch.
3rd Test — Mumbai
New Zealand completed the clean sweep by winning by 25 runs.
India’s 2024 home Test season therefore ended with a rare series defeat, while New Zealand became the first visiting side to beat India 3-0 in a Test series in India.
2025: Champions Trophy Final
India and New Zealand met again in a major ICC final during the 2025 Champions Trophy.
New Zealand made 251/7 in Dubai.
India chased the target successfully, reaching 254/6 and winning by four wickets.
It was another important Indian response after New Zealand’s dominance in the 2024 Test series.
2026: New Zealand Win an ODI Series in India
The teams met again in India in January 2026 for three ODIs.
India won the opening game in Vadodara by four wickets, but New Zealand responded strongly.
| ODI | Result |
|---|---|
| 1st, Vadodara | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2nd, Rajkot | New Zealand won by 7 wickets |
| 3rd, Indore | New Zealand won by 41 runs |
| Series | New Zealand won 2-1 |
The third ODI was particularly significant. New Zealand scored 337/8, with Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips both scoring centuries.
India were bowled out for 296 despite Virat Kohli scoring his 54th ODI century.
The 41-run victory gave New Zealand their first-ever ODI series win in India.
2026 T20I Series: India Fight Back
India and New Zealand then switched to T20Is ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
India won the five-match series 4-1.
The final match in Thiruvananthapuram produced India’s highest T20I total against New Zealand: 271/5.
The five-match series also included New Zealand’s 50-run victory in the fourth T20I, but India dominated the other four matches.
2026 T20 World Cup Final: India vs New Zealand
The biggest meeting of the year came in Ahmedabad.
India faced New Zealand in the 2026 T20 World Cup final on 8 March.
India produced a spectacular batting performance, scoring 255/5, the highest total ever recorded in a Men’s T20 World Cup final.
Sanju Samson made 89 from 46 balls, while Abhishek Sharma scored 52 from 21.
New Zealand’s chase never developed. Tim Seifert made 52 from 26, but India’s bowlers eventually dismissed New Zealand for 159 in 19 overs.
India won by 96 runs, securing their third Men’s T20 World Cup title and becoming the first team to win consecutive editions of the tournament.
2026 T20 World Cup Final Scorecard
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| India | 255/5 |
| New Zealand | 159 all out |
| Result | India won by 96 runs |
| India top scorer | Sanju Samson — 89 (46) |
| NZ top scorer | Tim Seifert — 52 (26) |
| India best bowler | Jasprit Bumrah — 4/15 |
Bumrah’s 4/15 was also the first four-wicket haul by a bowler in a Men’s T20 World Cup final.
Key India vs New Zealand Records
Test Records
| Record | India | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 65 | 65 |
| Wins | 22 | 16 |
| Draws | 27 | 27 |
| Highest team total | 583/7d | 680 |
| Lowest completed total | 46 | 62 |
India’s 46 in Bengaluru in 2024 is their lowest Test total against New Zealand, while New Zealand’s lowest completed total against India is 62.
ODI Records
| Record | India | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 123 | 123 |
| Wins | 63 | 52 |
| Ties | 1 | 1 |
| No Results | 7 | 7 |
| Highest total | 397/4 | 349 |
| Lowest completed total | 88 | 79 |
India’s 397/4 in the 2023 World Cup semi-final remains the highest ODI score in this fixture.
T20I Records
| Record | India | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 31 | 31 |
| Wins | 19 | 11 |
| Ties | 1 | 1 |
| Highest total | 271/5 | 225 |
| Lowest completed total | 79 | 66 |
India’s 271/5 in January 2026 is the highest T20I total between the two sides. New Zealand’s 66 all out in Ahmedabad in 2023 remains their lowest.
India vs New Zealand: Major Match Scorecards
For a quick reference, these are some of the most significant recent scorecards:
| Match | India | New Zealand | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 World Cup Semi-final | 221 | 239/8 | NZ won by 18 runs |
| 2021 WTC Final | 217 & 170 | 249 & 140/2 | NZ won by 8 wickets |
| 2023 ODI World Cup Semi-final | 397/4 | 327 | India won by 70 runs |
| 2024 1st Test | 462 | 402 & 110/2 | NZ won by 8 wickets |
| 2024 2nd Test | 156 & 245 | 259 & 255 | NZ won by 113 runs |
| 2024 3rd Test | 263 & 121 | 235 & 174 | NZ won by 25 runs |
| 2025 Champions Trophy Final | 254/6 | 251/7 | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2026 ODI, Indore | 296 | 337/8 | NZ won by 41 runs |
| 2026 T20 World Cup Final | 255/5 | 159 | India won by 96 runs |
What Makes the India-New Zealand Rivalry Different?
The overall statistics favour India, but the rivalry cannot be judged purely by bilateral numbers.
New Zealand have repeatedly caused India problems in major tournaments. Their 2000 Champions Trophy final victory, 2019 World Cup semi-final win and 2021 World Test Championship triumph all came when the stakes were exceptionally high.
India, however, have changed the recent narrative. They beat New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup semi-final, won the 2025 Champions Trophy final and then defeated them comprehensively in the 2026 T20 World Cup final.
The 2024 Test series and 2026 ODI series also show that New Zealand remain capable of producing historic results in India.
Upcoming India Tour of New Zealand
The next major chapter is already scheduled.
India are due to tour New Zealand in October and November 2026 for a massive 12-match assignment:
- 5 T20Is: 22 October–1 November
- 5 ODIs: 4–15 November
- 2 Tests: 19 November–1 December
The tour will be India’s first Test visit to New Zealand since 2019 and their first white-ball assignment there since 2022.
With New Zealand having recently won the 2026 ODI series in India and India having won the T20 World Cup final, the upcoming tour carries plenty of context before a ball is even bowled.
Conclusion
The India-New Zealand cricket rivalry has never been defined by one dominant team for every generation.
India lead the overall head-to-head in all three international formats, with 22 Test wins to New Zealand’s 16, 63 ODI wins to 52, and 19 T20I wins to 11. But New Zealand have repeatedly produced some of their finest cricket against India in major tournaments.
The 2019 World Cup semi-final and 2021 World Test Championship final remain landmark New Zealand victories. India answered with their own landmark wins in the 2023 World Cup semi-final, 2025 Champions Trophy final and 2026 T20 World Cup final.
The latest chapter therefore leaves the rivalry in a fascinating position: India have the stronger overall numbers, New Zealand have a history of upsetting India on the biggest stages, and both sides enter the 2026 New Zealand tour with plenty still to prove.
Statistics in this article are based on completed men’s international matches through 7 October 2026. The scheduled October-November 2026 New Zealand tour is not included in the head-to-head figures.
