Get the best IND vs NZ 1st T20I Dream11 match preview, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and data for the 1st encounter of the New Zealand tour of India 2026. Expert examination and more with India vs New Zealand.
IND vs NZ 1st T20I Match Prediction
India desperately wants redemption after losing the ODI series 2-1 recently. The five-match T20I series starts today on January 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM IST. VCA Stadium in Nagpur hosts this opening encounter between the two teams.
This IND vs NZ 1st T20I serves as crucial World Cup preparation honestly. India defends their T20 World Cup title soon and needs momentum. Top-order stability remains a major concern for the hosts right now.
Tilak Varma’s abdominal surgery rules him out for three matches. Squad changes before the World Cup announcement add extra pressure too. New Zealand arrives confident after their ODI series triumph surprisingly. JioStar Network and JioHotstar bring you all live action.
Pitch Report and Fantasy Cricket Tips
Nagpur’s VCA International Stadium expects a packed crowd today for this battle. Local fans bought tickets quickly wanting to support India passionately. The ODI series loss still hurts and they crave revenge. The pitch report suggests decent batting conditions throughout the game.
Evening dew will likely help chasing teams later in tonight’s contest. Captains might prefer bowling first based on these conditions. The weather remains clear making it perfect for explosive T20 cricket. Fans will witness uninterrupted action under lights at this venue.
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record
Total Matches: 25
India: 15
New Zealand: 10
Possible Playing 11s (Predicted)
India (IND) Playing XI
Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy
New Zealand (NZ) Playing XI
Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Tim Robinson, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (C), James Neesham, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi
IND vs NZ 1st T20I Dream11 Team Prediction
Wicketkeeper: Sanju Samson, Devon Conway
Batsmen: Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Daryl Mitchell (vc)
All-rounders: Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya (c), Rachin Ravindra
Bowlers: Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Lockie Ferguson
Captain Choices for the Match
- Hardik Pandya is the top captain choices for IND vs NZ 1st T20I today.
- Daryl Mitchell is a perfect captain prediction for Fantasy Cricket Tips.
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I Preview: Players to Avoid
- Washington Sundar is officially ruled out of the Playing XI.
- Dhruv Jurel is unlikely to feature in this opener.
This prediction report suggests an exciting contest for the New Zealand tour of India 2026. Dream11 suggest today’s pitch and toss win will favors the chasing side. Captain choices should be from in-form players. Win probability suggests the IND have 50% chances to win and 50% for the NZ.
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