India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline: Test, ODI and T20I History
The India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline covers decades of international cricket, from their first Test encounters in 1955 to their latest meetings in 2026. The rivalry has produced memorable Test series, World Cup clashes, close ODI finishes, T20I super overs and major tournament finals. India and New Zealand have competed across all three international formats, with each team enjoying periods of dominance. India have traditionally been a formidable force at home, while New Zealand have repeatedly challenged them in their own conditions. Their rivalry has also grown through ICC tournaments, where individual matches have often carried greater significance than bilateral series results.
This article examines the head-to-head timeline in Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), highlighting the major milestones, important series and defining moments through 2026.
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record in All Formats
The following table summarizes the men’s international head-to-head record.
| Format | Matches | India won | New Zealand won | Drawn | Tied | No result |
| Test | 65 | 22 | 16 | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 123 | 63 | 52 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| T20I | 31 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 219 | 104 | 79 | 27 | 2 | 7 |
India have won more matches than New Zealand in all three formats. Their advantage is particularly clear in ODIs and T20Is, while Test cricket has produced a more closely contested rivalry, with 27 matches ending in draws.
India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline: Year-by-Year History
1955–1969: The beginning of the Test rivalry
India and New Zealand began their Test rivalry in November 1955 during New Zealand’s tour of India. The five-match series featured three draws and two Indian victories. India won the second Test by an innings and 27 runs and the fifth by an innings and 109 runs. The teams met again in 1965, with all four Tests ending in draws or Indian victories. India’s first Test tour of New Zealand in 1968 produced three Indian wins and one New Zealand victory, marking an important early milestone for the visiting side.
1970s–1980s: Growth across Test and ODI cricket
The rivalry expanded when India and New Zealand began playing regular ODI cricket. Their first ODI encounter took place at the 1975 Cricket World Cup in Manchester, where New Zealand won by four wickets. India secured their first ODI victory over New Zealand in December 1980, winning by five runs in Australia. The teams subsequently played in World Cups, triangular tournaments and bilateral series. India also recorded important ODI wins during the 1987 World Cup and the 1987–88 Sharjah Cup.
In Test cricket, India recorded significant home victories in 1976 and 1988, while New Zealand continued to pose a tougher challenge on home pitches.
1990s: A competitive era in both countries
During the 1990s, India and New Zealand played several closely fought bilateral series. India enjoyed successful ODI campaigns at home, including wins in the 1994–95 and 1995–96 periods, although New Zealand also recorded important victories.
Test cricket remained competitive, with several drawn matches reflecting the challenges of securing results over five days. The teams entered the new millennium with an established international rivalry across formats.
2000–2009: ICC tournament battles and overseas challenges
New Zealand defeated India in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy final, winning by four wickets. India later beat New Zealand by seven wickets during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
Test cricket presented a different challenge for India. New Zealand won both Tests during India’s 2002–03 tour, while India’s 2008–09 tour brought a Test victory and a competitive ODI series.
The teams also entered the T20I era, meeting for the first time in September 2007 at the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa. New Zealand won that match by 10 runs.
2010–2016: India’s strong home performances
India dominated the 2010–11 home Test series, winning the third Test by an innings and 198 runs. In 2012, India won both Tests against New Zealand.
India also swept the three-Test series at home in 2016, winning by 197, 178 and 321 runs respectively. That series strengthened India’s home reputation and gave them a clear advantage in the overall Test head-to-head record.
In ODIs, the teams continued to exchange victories. Their 2016 series in India featured a 190-run Indian victory in the fifth match, while New Zealand also registered wins during the tour.
2017–2020: T20I drama and the 2019 World Cup semifinal
India and New Zealand produced several memorable white-ball matches during this period. India won their first T20I against New Zealand in November 2017, by 53 runs in Delhi.
The defining ODI encounter came in the 2019 World Cup semifinal. New Zealand scored 239/8 and defended the target to win by 18 runs, despite a determined lower-order effort from Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni.
In January 2020, India won all five T20Is during their tour of New Zealand. Two matches required Super Overs, and India won both, making the series a landmark in their T20I rivalry.
New Zealand subsequently won both Tests during India’s 2019–20 tour, demonstrating how strongly the balance could shift between formats.
2021–2023: World Test Championship final and World Cup semifinal
New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets in the inaugural World Test Championship final at Southampton in June 2021. It was one of the most significant victories in New Zealand’s Test history.
India responded with a 372-run win in the Mumbai Test in December 2021, their largest victory by runs against New Zealand in the supplied records.
The 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal offered another major chapter. India beat New Zealand by 70 runs at Mumbai, reversing the result of their 2019 semifinal meeting.
In T20Is, India won the 2023 series 2–1 after losing the opening match by 21 runs.
2024: New Zealand’s historic Test series sweep in India
New Zealand won all three Tests on their 2024 tour of India. They won the Bengaluru Test by eight wickets, the Pune Test by 113 runs and the Mumbai Test by 25 runs.
The 3–0 result was a historic achievement because New Zealand became the first visiting team to complete a three-Test series sweep against India on Indian soil. It was also a major turning point in the modern Test rivalry.
2025: India win the Champions Trophy final
India and New Zealand met twice in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. India won the group-stage encounter by 44 runs and then beat New Zealand by four wickets in the final in Dubai.
The final was another important knockout victory for India after New Zealand had eliminated them from the 2019 ODI World Cup. It also reinforced India’s strong ODI record against New Zealand.
2026: A busy year across all formats
The teams met in ODIs and T20Is in early 2026. India won the first ODI in January, but New Zealand won the next two to take the three-match series 2–1.
India won four of the five T20Is played in January, with New Zealand winning the fourth match. India also won the T20I encounter on 8 March 2026 by 96 runs, according to the supplied records.
These results kept India ahead in the overall head-to-head standings, although New Zealand continued to demonstrate their ability to win important matches.
India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline in Test Cricket
India and New Zealand first met in Test cricket in 1955. Their longest-running format has featured a mixture of Indian dominance at home, New Zealand’s success in home conditions and a substantial number of drawn matches.
India vs New Zealand Test head-to-head record
| Statistic | Record |
| Total Tests | 65 |
| India wins | 22 |
| New Zealand wins | 16 |
| Draws | 27 |
| Ties | 0 |
Important Test matches and series
| Year | Match or series | Result |
| 1955–56 | First Test series in India | India won 2–0 in a five-match series |
| 1967–68 | India’s tour of New Zealand | India won three of four Tests |
| 2010–11 | New Zealand’s tour of India | India won the third Test by an innings and 198 runs |
| 2012 | Two-Test series in India | India won 2–0 |
| 2016 | Three-Test series in India | India won 3–0 |
| 2019–20 | India’s tour of New Zealand | New Zealand won 2–0 |
| 2021 | World Test Championship final | New Zealand won by eight wickets |
| 2021 | Second Test in Mumbai | India won by 372 runs |
| 2024 | New Zealand’s tour of India | New Zealand won 3–0 |
The 2016 series stands out as one of India’s strongest Test performances against New Zealand. However, the 2024 sweep demonstrated that home advantage is never a guarantee, even for a side with a strong record on familiar pitches.
The World Test Championship final in 2021 added another dimension to the rivalry by putting an ICC title on the line. New Zealand’s victory proved that they could perform under pressure against India at a neutral venue.
India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline in ODI Cricket
The ODI rivalry began at the 1975 World Cup. Since then, India and New Zealand have played bilateral series, triangular tournaments, World Cups and Champions Trophy matches.
India vs New Zealand ODI head-to-head record
| Statistic | Record |
| Total ODIs | 123 |
| India wins | 63 |
| New Zealand wins | 52 |
| Ties | 1 |
| No results | 7 |
Major ODI milestones
| Year | Match | Result |
| 1975 | First ODI, World Cup in Manchester | New Zealand won by four wickets |
| 1980 | Match in Australia | India won by five runs |
| 1987 | World Cup encounter in Bengaluru | India won by 16 runs |
| 2003 | World Cup encounter in South Africa | India won by seven wickets |
| 2019 | World Cup semifinal | New Zealand won by 18 runs |
| 2023 | World Cup semifinal | India won by 70 runs |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy group stage | India won by 44 runs |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy final | India won by four wickets |
| 2026 | ODI series in India | New Zealand won 2–1 |
The 2019 and 2023 World Cup semifinals are particularly important in the India vs New Zealand timeline. New Zealand won the first, while India won the second by a convincing margin.
Their Champions Trophy final in 2025 was another major meeting. India successfully chased New Zealand’s target to win by four wickets, adding another ICC trophy to their record against the Black Caps.
In January 2026, New Zealand bounced back in bilateral ODI cricket. After losing the opening match, they won the next two games to secure the series.
India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline in T20I Cricket
T20I cricket has produced some of the rivalry’s most dramatic finishes. The teams first met in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, and their subsequent matches have included close finishes, high-scoring contests and Super Overs.
India vs New Zealand T20I head-to-head record
| Statistic | Record |
| Total T20Is | 31 |
| India wins | 19 |
| New Zealand wins | 11 |
| Ties | 1 |
| No results | 0 |
Memorable T20I matches
| Date | Match | Result |
| 16 September 2007 | First T20I between the teams | New Zealand won by 10 runs |
| 1 November 2017 | Match in Delhi | India won by 53 runs |
| 24 January 2020 | First T20I of India’s New Zealand tour | India won by six wickets |
| 29 January 2020 | Third T20I, Hamilton | India won in a Super Over |
| 31 January 2020 | Fourth T20I, Wellington | India won in a Super Over |
| 1 February 2023 | Third T20I, Ahmedabad | India won by 168 runs |
| January 2026 | Five-match T20I series | India won 4–1 |
| 8 March 2026 | T20I | India won by 96 runs |
The January 2020 series is one of the most memorable episodes in the T20I timeline. India won two consecutive matches in Super Overs, showing composure in high-pressure situations.
India’s 168-run win in Ahmedabad in February 2023 was another standout result. It highlighted the gap that can emerge when India’s batting lineup produces a dominant performance in the shortest format.
India’s 2026 results further strengthened their T20I head-to-head advantage over New Zealand.
India vs New Zealand: Most Important ICC Tournament Matches
The rivalry has become especially significant in ICC tournaments, where a single result can determine whether a team advances or wins a trophy.
| Year | Tournament | Stage | Winner |
| 2000 | ICC KnockOut Trophy | Final | New Zealand |
| 2019 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Semifinal | New Zealand |
| 2021 | World Test Championship | Final | New Zealand |
| 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Semifinal | India |
| 2025 | ICC Champions Trophy | Final | India |
| 2026 | T20I encounter on 8 March | Listed match | India |
The 2000 KnockOut Trophy final was an early example of New Zealand’s ability to beat India in a major tournament. The 2019 World Cup semifinal and 2021 World Test Championship final extended that trend.
India subsequently reversed the narrative with their 2023 World Cup semifinal win and 2025 Champions Trophy final victory. These matches have helped make India vs New Zealand one of the most closely followed international cricket rivalries.
India vs New Zealand: Biggest Wins
Some victories stand out because of the size of the winning margin.
| Format | Match | Result |
| Test | India vs New Zealand, Mumbai, December 2021 | India won by 372 runs |
| Test | India vs New Zealand, Indore, October 2016 | India won by 321 runs |
| ODI | India vs New Zealand, Hyderabad, November 2003 | India won by 145 runs |
| ODI | India vs New Zealand, Indore, January 2023 | India won by 90 runs |
| T20I | India vs New Zealand, Ahmedabad, February 2023 | India won by 168 runs |
India’s 372-run Test victory in 2021 is particularly notable. Their 321-run win in 2016 also demonstrates how dominant India could be in home conditions during that period.
In white-ball cricket, the 168-run T20I victory in 2023 was an emphatic result, while the 145-run ODI win in 2003 remains one of the largest margins of victory in this rivalry.
What Makes the India vs New Zealand Rivalry Special?
Several factors distinguish this rivalry from a straightforward head-to-head contest.
- Different home conditions: Indian pitches can favour spin, while New Zealand conditions often reward seam bowling and movement.
- ICC tournament pressure: Their World Cup semifinals and championship finals have produced defining moments.
- Format-specific strengths: India’s overall record is stronger in ODIs and T20Is, while Test cricket has featured more draws and a narrower win margin.
- Close finishes: Super Overs, narrow ODI victories and high-pressure chases have repeatedly kept matches competitive.
- Changing periods of dominance: India’s home success in 2016 and New Zealand’s 2024 Test sweep show that the balance can change significantly between series.
The teams’ contrasting strengths have helped sustain the rivalry over more than seven decades of Test cricket and across every major limited-overs format.
Conclusion
The India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline reflects a long-standing rivalry shaped by changing conditions, different playing styles and high-stakes tournament encounters. India hold the overall advantage in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, but New Zealand have repeatedly produced important victories, including the 2019 World Cup semifinal, the 2021 World Test Championship final and their historic 3–0 Test series sweep in India in 2024.
India’s later victories in the 2023 World Cup semifinal and 2025 Champions Trophy final show how the rivalry continues to evolve. With both teams competing regularly across formats, their head-to-head history remains an important part of international cricket.
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Frequently Asked Questions
India and New Zealand first played a Test series in 1955 in India. Their first ODI took place at the 1975 Cricket World Cup, and their first T20I was played in September 2007.
India lead in all three formats in the supplied records. They have won 22 Tests, 63 ODIs and 19 T20Is, compared with New Zealand’s 16 Test wins, 52 ODI wins and 11 T20I wins.
India have won 22 of the 65 Tests listed, while New Zealand have won 16. The remaining 27 matches ended in draws.
New Zealand won by 18 runs after scoring 239/8. India were unable to complete the chase despite a determined effort from their lower-order batters.
India won by four wickets in Dubai, successfully chasing New Zealand’s target to claim the Champions Trophy.
New Zealand won the three-match series 2–1. India won the opening ODI, but New Zealand secured victories in the second and third matches.
India and New Zealand have played 31 T20Is so far, with India winning 19, New Zealand winning 11 and one match ending in a tie.
