India to play five T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests in New Zealand in 2020

A controversy already made the headlines recently over Australia’s three-match ODI series in India in January 2020. It was quite an episode for the Kangaroos hardly play outside their own country in their summer. The Indian cricket board’s pressure could not be overlooked by its Australian counterpart and it had to drop a home ODI series against New Zealand.

However, India too don’t have any lighter schedule around that time to cater to. While their three-ODI series against Australia takes place between January 14-19, the Asians will be heading for New Zealand soon after a full-fledged series starting January 24 which is Friday.

They will play five T20Is between January 24 and February 2. It will be followed by three ODIs between February 5 and 11. After the limited-over series, India and New Zealand will play two Tests in Wellington and Christchurch between February 21 and Match 4. The two Tests will be part of the ICC World Test Championship scheduled between July 2019 and June 2021.

The five T20Is will be played in Auckland (first two), Hamilton, Wellington and Tauranga and the three ODIs will be played in Hamilton, Auckland and Tauranga.

India last played two limited-over series in New Zealand earlier this year. They won the five-match ODI series 4-1 but closely lost the three-match T20I series 1-2. Skipper Virat Kohli took part in the ODI series but then was rested after winning the first three games to pocket the series. Rohit Sharma took over in his absence and while he won of the remaining two games, he failed to win the T20I series.

India will play a Test series in NZ after six years

India last played a Test series in New Zealand in 2013-14 when the hosts won a two-match series 1-0. India’s last Test-series victory in New Zealand had come in 2009 when Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side won a three-match series 1-0. It was India’s second Test series victory in New Zealand after 1967-68 when Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s team had defeated them 3-1 in a four-match series. New Zealand have never beaten India in a Test series in India and were walloped 3-0 the last time they toured India in 2016-17.

New Zealand vs India

January 24: 1st T20I at Eden Park, Auckland
January 26: 2nd T20I at Eden Park, Auckland
January 29: 3rd T20I at Seddon Park, Hamilton
January 31: 4th T20I at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
February 2: 5th T20I at Bay Oval, Tauranga

February 5: 1st ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton
February 8: 2nd ODI at Eden Park, Auckland
February 11: 3rd ODI at Bay Oval, Tauranga

February 21-25: 1st Test at Basin Reserve, Wellington
February 29-March 4: 2nd Test at Hagley Oval, Christchurch